DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

What this award covers

MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOMEVISITING GRANT PROGRAM - PROJECT ABSTRACT –FY2026 BASE GRANT AWARD (X10) PROJECT TITLE: AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV PROGRAM ORGANIZATION NAME: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ADDRESS: 5666 FAGAALU ROAD, PAGO PAGO, AS 96799 PROJECT DIRECTOR: TINA IOANE CONTACT NUMBERS: (PHONE) 684-8189 EXTENSION: 1102; AND (MOBILE) 684-254-3426 EMAIL: [email protected] PURPOSE: THE AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV PROGRAM IS SUBMITTING THIS DOCUMENT TO REQUEST FUNDING THAT WILL ENABLE THE PROVISION OF EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING SERVICES TO AT-RISK FAMILIES. THESE FAMILIES ARE LOCATED IN THE EASTERN, WESTERN, AND CENTRAL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING THE REMOTE COUNTIES OR DISTRICTS IN THE MANU’A ISLANDS. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND OVERALL FAMILY WELL-BEING FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS AND PARENTS WITH CHILDREN UP TO KINDERGARTEN AGE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES. THE MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING (MIECHV) GRANT OFFERS EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING SERVICES TO ENHANCE HEALTH, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC INDICATORS WITHIN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES IN AMERICAN SAMOA. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF PREGNANT MOTHERS AND PARENTS WITH CHILDREN UP TO KINDERGARTEN ENTRY, PARTICULARLY THOSE RESIDING IN COMMUNITIES AT RISK FOR POOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES. OUR GOALS INCLUDE DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY HOME VISITATION SERVICES TO AT-RISK PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN WITHIN THE TERRITORY BY INTEGRATING HOME VISITING INTO A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF SERVICES FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD POPULATION, AND STRIVING FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MIECHV PROGRAM. OUR KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDING IMPROVING SCHOOL READINESS, BOOSTING ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND BETTER COORDINATING REFERRALS TO SERVICES. APPROACH: OUR APPROACH INVOLVES CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE PROVISION OF COORDINATED, COMPREHENSIVE, HIGH-QUALITY, AND VOLUNTARY EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WHILE IMPLEMENTING AND UTILIZING THE EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA) MODEL. MATCHING FUNDS WILL BE USED TO EXPAND SERVICES AND IMPROVE HOME VISITING SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, WE HAVE SET THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: (1) SERVE 230 FAMILIES AT ANY GIVEN TIME, (2) PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR HOME VISITORS, (3) IMPROVE BENCHMARK VI PERFORMANCE MEASURES ON REFERRALS AND OUTCOMES, (4) COMPLETE THREE PLAN-DO-STUDY-ACT CYCLES, (5) ACHIEVE A 30% INCREASE IN REFERRALS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION UTILIZING A TRANSITION PLANNING PROCESS, AND (6) ATTAIN AN 85% OR BETTER CLIENT SATISFACTION RATE AMONG FAMILIES. CASELOAD: THE AIGA MANUIA OF THE AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV PROPOSES A TOTAL CASELOAD OF 230 MIECHV FAMILY SLOTS TO MAINTAIN FOR THE FY2026 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (09/30/2026 THROUGH 09/29/2027 AND 09/30/2027 THROUGH 09/29/2028). FUNDING WILL ENABLE THE AIGA MANUIA PROGRAM TO DELIVER AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV HOME VISITING SERVICES, SERVING 15 COUNTIES ACROSS THE AMERICAN SAMOA ARCHIPELAGO AND ITS OUTER ISLANDS. AMERICAN SAMOA HAS ONE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SERVED BY THE AIGA MANUIA OF THE MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM. THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR DISTRICTS SERVED BY THE AIGA MANUIA PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV ARE: FOFO, ITUAU, LEALATAUA/ALATAUA, LEASINA/AITULAGI, MA’OPUTASI, SA’OLE, SUA, TUALATAI, TUALAUTA, AND VAIFANUA, FALEASAO, FITIUTA, OFU, OLOSEGA, AND TA’U. LIAS: THE GRANTEE-RECIPIENT WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA) MODEL TO IMPROVE HOME VISITING SERVICE DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE. THE AIGA MANUIA OF THE AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV PROGRAM IS THE GRANTEE-RECIPIENT AND IS DESIGNATED TO RECEIVE FY2025 MIECHV FUNDING. MATCHING FUNDS: WE ARE WRITING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING OUR PLANS FOR UTILIZING MATCHING FUNDS AND TO FORMALLY REQUEST A WAIVER FOR THE MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT FOR THE AMERICAN SAMOA MIECHV PROJ