STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

What this award covers

MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOMEVISITING GRANT PROGRAM - PURPOSE: GEORGIA IS COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING HIGH-QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAMS IN TWENTY-SEVEN AT-RISK COUNTIES AS AN ESSENTIAL STRATEGY FOR STRENGTHENING THE SYSTEM OF CARE AND IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES. THESE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS, QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY WITH FIDELITY TO THE MODEL, AND CONTINUOUS PROGRAM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. THE STATE HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED MATERNAL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES A UNIVERSAL APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING EXPECTANT PARENTS, CHILDREN BIRTH TO FIVE, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FUNDING ALLOWS GEORGIA TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY FOR ADDRESSING THE OVERALL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING OF AT-RISK FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE BY UTILIZING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES. MAJOR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: THE GOAL OF GEORGIA’S MIECHV PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL FAMILIES BY IMPLEMENTING COMPREHENSIVE EBHV MODELS THROUGH 14 LOCAL IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES (LIAS), WHILE PROMOTING PROGRAM QUALITY, UTILIZING DATA FOR DECISION-MAKING, LEVERAGING FATHER INVOLVEMENT, AND SUPPORTING LIAS IN HOME VISITOR RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND WELL-BEING. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1. BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2028, GEORGIA MIECHV WILL MAINTAIN 100% SITE-LEVEL MODEL FIDELITY AS DETERMINED BY REPORTS FROM MODEL DEVELOPERS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) PROVIDERS, AND STATE LEAD FOR THE THREE MODELS UTILIZED IN GEORGIA: (HFA, PAT, NFP) 2. OCTOBER 1, 2027, EXPANSION INTO BIBB, CRAWFORD, AND JONES COUNTIES. FUTURE PLANS, CONTINGENT ON FUNDING: PLANS OF EXPANSION INTO JASPER, SPALDING, PIKE, PULASKI, AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES, WHILE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HOME VISITORS IN EXISTING COUNTIES. 3. BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2028, THE GHVP TEAM WILL PROVIDE CONSISTENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO 100% OF LIAS. 4. BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2028, THE GHVP TEAM WILL PROVIDE COORDINATED EBHV MODEL CORE TRAINING AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE FOR SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH MATERNAL DEPRESSION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND MENTAL ILLNESS TO ALL LIAS. 5. BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2028, THE GHVP TEAM WILL ASSIST 100% OF GEORGIA LIAS WITH DATA COLLECTION, DATA ENTRY AND REPORTING, MEETING CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS. 6. BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2027, THE GEORGIA HOME VISITING TEAM WILL ADMINISTER THE NEWLY DEVISED CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS TO AT LEAST 80% OF CLIENTS RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH THE GHVP. 7. BY SEPTEMBER 29, 2028, THE GHVP WILL ASSIST 90% OF GEORGIA HOME VISITING SITES WITH DEVELOPMENT AND/OR CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF A FATHER INVOLVEMENT ACTION PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION. APPROACH: DPH WILL USE THE FY26 MIECHV GRANT TO SUPPORT EXPANSION WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THREE EBHV MODELS TO TARGET THE NEEDS OF EXPECTANT PARENTS, CHILDREN BIRTH TO FIVE, AND THEIR FAMILIES IN TWENTY-SEVEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH 14 LOCAL IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES (LIAS). THE CURRENT CASELOAD FOR GEORGIA MIECHV IS 1398, DUE TO THE MOST RECENT PAR APPROVAL FOR THE REMOVAL OF WEST CENTRAL HEALTH DISTRICT AND DECREASE IN ROCKDALE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CORDELE’S CAPACITY. THE FY26 CASELOAD WILL INCREASE TO 1423 IN YEAR 1 AND 1523 IN YEAR 2 OF THE PROJECT PERIOD, DUE TO THE INCREASE OF CAPACITY OF RAINBOW HOUSE AND EXPANSION OF COUNITES FROM UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE EXPANSION IN YEAR 2 WILL BE MADE POSSIBLE BY LEVERAGING THE FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS. GEORGIA OBLIGATES STATE FUNDS TO MEET THE FEDERAL MATCHING REQUIREMENT. THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION, REFERRAL, SCREENING, PARENT EDUCATION, AND LINKAGE TO APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SERVICES. THE IMPLEMENTATION ALSO INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COHESIVE PLAN TO PROMOTE PROGRAM QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS, AS WELL AS A COORDINATED DATA SYSTEM TO GUIDE DECISION-MAKING, IMPROVE COORDINATION OF SERVICES, AND ASSIST COUNTIES IN MONITORING PROGRESS TOWARD DESIRED RESULTS.