Program Overview
The California Home Visiting Program (CHVP) got developed for the families which are overburdened. This is due to the risk of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs), facing child maltreatment, mental illness, domestic violence or abuse. The program provides an enhanced parenting model and support network for the guidance of parents. It provides access to tools and guidelines to raise their children independently leading to the development of the child.
According to research, home visits by a professional during the pregnancy and early age have significantly improved lives. It helps those children and parents to avoid abuse and neglect. It gives children a healthy start by supporting their parenting, improving their maternal health and school readiness for a brighter future. The program has brought in positive outcomes. This includes saving the taxpayers by decreasing the societal cost occurring with partner violence. Along with it, there is also a decrease in youth crime, abuse, and maltreatment of child and government support needs. It not only builds a child’s future but also strengthens the family and nourishes a strong community. The program serves the pregnant and newly parenting parents who have a risk of being a victim. Specifically of domestic violence, low income, unstable housing, education under 12 years, depression or mental illness. The services are carried out by the Public Health Nurse or by a paraprofessional in the family right after birth.
CHVP is funded by the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. The finances are provided for home visiting in every California based on evidence. The families receive help from the health and social service along with professional for child development through scheduled home visits. Parents are taught to enhance the applicant’s family’s health and to recognize opportunities for their children. The teachable environment is naturally created at home as questions are raised, concerns are discussed, and valuable information is gained.
The program is carried out in the form of two models The Health Families America and the Nurse Family Partnership. Both of these programs are running in 24 of California’s 58 counties.
Eligibility Requirements
As the program is conducted through HFA or NFP the eligibility criterion is as follows
- Applicant families with low income must enroll in the first three months after the child is born in HFA. Being a first-time parent is optional in HFA. Home visits are provided by trained paraprofessionals to the family continued to 3 years. The program considers a strength-based approach and an inspiring interview.
- HFA is conducted in two phases. First, the screening is done and later, an assessment is done through the Parent Survey or Family Stress Checklist. This screening must be approved by the CHVP. The results are entered in CHVP Efforts to come out (ET0) in 7 days after the screening has been done. On a positive screen, the assessment through Parent survey is scheduled within 7 days. The county must approve the consent forms before the assessment is made to make sure of the confidentiality of information
- Applicant families with low income or the first-time mothers must enroll till the 28th week of pregnancy for NFP. Home visits are provided by a public health nurse for 2 years.
- The NFP and HFA eligibility criterion is required which is developed by the models
- Local The California Home Visiting Program must develop a method to recognize requirements for low income for the eligibility of participants. It must be defined in the CHVP Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) Profile. They are required to keep the program consultant upgraded for approving the changes in the target service area.
- If the family meets the criteria but doesn’t hold a permanent address, they still an enroll in the CHVP
- If an applicant family turns out to be negative for HFA screening or not eligible for the NFP, an alternative program or community service is provided to them by the visiting staff.
How To Apply to the California Home Visiting Program
For the enrollment the guidelines set by the CHVP, HFA and NFP must be followed. The enrollment for the local The California Home Visiting Program includes:
- Visit at the applicant’s home by the home visitor
- Compiling the necessary elements of the home visit
- Signing the NFP or HFA consent form which lets state access all the information about the family. This form cannot be substituted but provides an option of not answering all the questions.
The applicants who do not approve the home visiting are provided alternative programs and community services. Local CHVP prepares the caseload requirement. If the level falls under 85 percent of the required monthly technical assistance call is provided. On high caseload the applicants are referred to alternative programs. When slots are available the applicants may be given priority based on risk, need, age, location or language.
Online applications can be submitted for the HFA and NFP at the following websites which require the city information and the zip code. NFP can be contacted at 844-637-6667
For Further Information
More information can be gained by visiting the official website of the California Department of Public Health. It includes in-depth information about the program as well as any other resources that may prove helpful. Along with this, there is also an email that can be used [email protected] as well as telephone number 312-663-3520.