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Home visit grant program could get funding boost

Looking to expand support services for families who have high-risk factors, additional funding could be forthcoming to evidence-based home visit programs.

Sponsored by Rep. Kristen Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove), HF1226, as amended, was held over Thursday by the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division for possible omnibus bill inclusion. The companion, SF1226, awaits action by the Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee. Sen. Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud) is the Senate sponsor.

Dawn Reckinger, manager of the Family Home Visiting program, operated by the Department of Health, overviewed the voluntary service for pregnant women and caregivers. The state partners with existing, third-party, home visit providers such as Lifetrack, YWCA of Mankato and Simpson Housing. The visits can begin prenatally and continue through age 3. 

“There’s over 30 years of research on this with proven results,” Reckinger said. “Home visiting shows improved outcomes for parents and children across their lifespan, and across topic areas and across the many models.” 

Nedra Robinson, from left, Marielynn Herrera and Chandra Bittman testify before the House Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division Feb. 21 in support of a bill sponsored by Rep. Kristin Bahner, right. Photo by Andrew VonBank

Last year the program served 12,400 pregnant women and families, though Reckinger noted there is potentially a greater need, up to 102,000 low-income individuals would be eligible for services. Some of who could now be receiving services through private or nonprofit organizations.

Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) questioned the agency’s data collection practices in regards to the program, asking how much they collect, if it’s coerced and how it is used. “How in-depth do you get with that parent and say, ‘This is what we do with the data,’ and how long is it on file for?”

The program adheres to state and federal data requirements, and collects data at both the client level and when visiting, Reckinger explained, acknowledging that it can get repetitive and take time away from visits.

However, she emphasized data collection is contingent on a client’s consent, that providers don’t coerce or deny services for data refusal, and that once it’s collected the department keeps that data private.

“The data for home visiting is actually highly, highly protected,” she said. “So even though, literally right down the hall from me is WIC [Women, Infants, and Children Food and Nutrition Service], I can’t share any of our data with them. I actually can’t share our data with anyone.”

The proposal would allocate $23 million in Fiscal Year 2020 and $41.6 million in Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund to the department to oversee the grant program. At least 75 percent of the grant funds should be awarded to evidence-based programs that address health equity and up to 25 percent of the funds could be awarded to evidence-informed programs.  

Amanda Kowalski, a mother of four, opposed the bill, expressing disappointment with her own experience using home visit services, particularly in terms of time spent on data collection, lack of appropriate program referrals and unhelpfulness of the visitor.

“What I really wanted was help with breastfeeding, and obviously over half of the visit was a packet that I had to talk about with things I’d already covered with my doctor,” Kowalski said.

Opponents noted that privately operated home visit providers also work to meet the needs of pregnant women, new caregivers and young children, and questioned the need for additional state funding and oversight. Additionally, they had concerns regarding the data practices of third-party providers, and requested provisions be added to the bill to mandate stricter guidelines on data collection and sharing. 

Advocates, including Chandra Bittmann, director of Families Together at Lifetrack, say the grant program plays an important role in helping to meet the needs of at-risk families.

“With additional home visiting funds, programs like Lifetrack may have the opportunity to engage additional families in our programs,” Bittmann said. “We know these early investments have positive lifelong impacts on families and their children.”


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