HB537 - ericsundberg/legwiki GitHub Wiki
| House | Senate | Conference | Governor | ||||||||||
| Committee | Floor | Committee | Floor | ||||||||||
| Docketed | Subcommittee | Committee | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Docketed | Subcommittee | Committee | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| ✔ | On agenda | ||||||||||||
Home Visiting Program established; report. Establishes the Home Visiting Program within the Department of Social Services to support pregnant people and parents with young children that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes. The bill directs the Department to operate in accordance with the Virginia Plan for Home Visiting established by Early Impact Virginia, a consortium of government and private entities. The purpose of the Program is to (i) promote the health and wellbeing of pregnant people and parents, (ii) improve infant and child health and development, (iii) strengthen family functioning, (iv) promote school readiness, (v) reduce child maltreatment, (vi) promote economic mobility, and (vii) cultivate strong communities. The bill requires the Department to report biennially to the Governor and the General Assembly on outcomes for Program participants.
- Joshua G. Cole (chief patron)
- None
01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101884D PDF
- 01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101889D
- 01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
- 01/17/24 House: Assigned sub: Social Services
This bill has no fiscal impact statement available.
The language of HB537 can be viewed here.
Thank you, Mrs. Chair,
There is an amendment to this bill as provided by the Department of Social Services. This should be available on LIS and additionally paper copies were provided to your offices earlier today.
The amendments are as follows:
1. Page 1, Introduced, Line 26, after The Program
Strike
shall operate in accordance with
Insert
may utilize
2. Page 1, Introduced, line 27, after Early Impact Virginia
Insert
As guidance for the operation of the Program
3. Page 1, Introduced, line 27, after The Program
Strike
shall
Insert
may
4. Page 1, Introduced, line 28, after data reporting
Strike
With Early Impact Virginia for all home visiting models within the Virginia Plan for Home Visiting
5. Page 1, Introduced, line 40, after meaningful services.
Strike
The Program shall determine such funding allocation in collaboration with Early Impact Virginia, state agencies, and any other relevant stakeholders.
HB537 establishes the Home Visiting Program within the Department of Social Services with the primary objective of providing support to pregnant individuals and parents with young children who face heightened risks and barriers in achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes. The bill mandates that the Department may utilize the standards set out by the Virginia Plan for Home Visiting, as established by Early Impact Virginia, a group comprised of both governmental and private entities working to ensure all pregnant and parenting families have access to home visiting.
This legislation will:
- Promote the health and well-being of pregnant individuals and parents.
- Enhance the health and development of infants and children.
- Strengthen family functioning.
- Facilitate school readiness.
- Reduce instances of child abuse and neglect.
- Promote economic mobility.
- Cultivate resilient and supportive communities.
Furthermore, the bill obligates the Department to report biennially to the Governor and the General Assembly on the outcomes achieved for Program participants, although these reports will contain only nonidentifying information.
This bill is supported by Families Forward. Families Forward is "a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to disrupting the cycles of child abuse, neglect, and poverty." Families Forward works in partnership with Early Impact Virginia to promote home-visiting services.
Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Chair,
HB537 establishes the Home Visiting Program within the Department of Social Services with the primary objective of providing support to pregnant individuals and parents with young children who face heightened risks and barriers in achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes.
The bill mandates that the Department may utilize the standards set out by the Virginia Plan for Home Visiting, as established by Early Impact Virginia, a group comprised of both governmental and private entities working to ensure all pregnant and parenting families have access to home visiting.
This legislation will:
- Promote the health and well-being of pregnant individuals and parents.
- Enhance the health and development of infants and children.
- Strengthen family functioning.
- Facilitate school readiness.
- Reduce instances of child abuse and neglect.
- Promote economic mobility.
- Cultivate resilient and supportive communities.
Here's the dollar cost from the fiscal impact statement:
- 2025 $261,585 for 2 positions
- 2026 $251,259 for 2 positions
- 2027 $251,259 for 2 positions
- 2028 $251,259 for 2 positions
- 2029 $251,259 for 2 positions
- 2030 $251,259 for 2 positions
HB537 is an easy win to make lives better for many Virginians.
I hope it will be the will of the body to report this bill to full committee.
n/a
n/a
n/a
Supported by Families Forward.
Home Visiting is a prevention strategy used to support pregnant and parenting families to promote positive health, behavioral health, development, and school readiness outcomes, and to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
Home visitors coach parents in their role as their children’s first and most important teachers. Home visiting delivered by trained professionals who provide customized coaching and guidance through pregnancy and early childhood. Home Visitors conduct regular screenings to help parents identify possible health, behavioral health, and developmental issues.
Home Visiting is a voluntary program and reaches families in their homes when and how they choose.
Because every family and every community is different, Virginia has eight models in use to meet the needs of the families served.
Last year, Virginia’s 572 dedicated professionals served more than 6,700 families. Home Visiting is Making a Difference in VA!
5% of babies w/ moms participating in Nurse Family Partnership home visiting were born pre- term, compared to the VA pre-term birth rate of almost 10%.
98% of primary caregivers reporting substance use were monitored and connected to substance use disorder services, and 100% continued in home visiting programs.
100% of primary caregivers experiencing depression were connected to mental health services.
90% of children referred for potential health and/or development delays qualified for follow-up services.
98% of parents experiencing domestic violence were monitored and connected with services, and 100% continued receiving home visiting services.
Home Visiting By the Numbers – FY22
- 63,454 Home Visits
- 9,953 Total Screenings (including child development, caregiver depression, and intimate partner violence screening)
- 7,245 Children Served
- 1,404 Pregnant Women Served
- 572 Dedicated Professionals
- $35M Total Investment
The goal of this bill is to secure and grow the future of the field of home visiting, and all of its models.
I have with me the CEO Families Forward, Jamia Crockett with us here to talk about Home Visiting as a field.