Washington, D.C. — October 5th, 2026 — Wisconsin has just received $11,441,359 in federal funding through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program to continue providing voluntary home visiting programs that support parents and improve outcomes for families and young children.

Nationwide, this represents the largest-ever amount of dedicated federal funding for home visiting services to children and families. In Wisconsin, this year’s federal grant represents a $749,403 increase over last year. The additional federal funds were unlocked by the state’s investment of non-federal matching funds at a rate of $1 in state funding for every $3 in federal funding received. Wisconsin Department of Children and Families oversees MIECHV-funded home visiting in Wisconsin.

“MIECHV reflects a simple idea: supporting parents early gives children a stronger start. Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher, and by giving them the tools and support they need, we help create a strong foundation for children to thrive,” said Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Tom Engels. “These awards will help states and jurisdictions provide pregnant women and families the support they need during the critical early years of a child’s life. Home visiting is a key pillar of the Trump Administration’s work to Make America Healthy Again. When children receive the support they need early in life, we’re promoting their development and laying the foundation for better health throughout their lives.”

Home visiting offers parents voluntary, evidence-based assistance from trained family support professionals for guidance during pregnancy and early childhood. Home visitors serve as trusted partners for families, helping bridge the gap between parents’ goals and the resources to which they have access. 

Research shows a family’s relationship with a home visitor improves birth outcomes, strengthens early development, increases school readiness, and reduces the risk of child abuse and neglect. 

Some parents begin working with a home visitor before birth, while others enroll later in early childhood, but all are supported in their role as their children’s first and best teachers, with more confident parenting and kids who arrive at kindergarten ready to learn. 

MIECHV is the only federal funding source dedicated to home visiting, supporting grants to 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories, and 53 Tribes. MIECHV’s evidence-based models have a research-backed track record of improving health, behavioral, and economic outcomes for children, mothers, and families. Through a collaborative, personal approach, trained home visitors work alongside new parents to identify parenting goals and establish healthy, development-focused strategies. MIECHV also empowers parents to pursue further education, job training, and financial and housing stability, all of which are key to individual, family, and community well-being. 

For more information about how home visiting is working for families in Wisconsin, visit the MIECHV data dashboard or learn more about home visiting in Wisconsin here: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cwportal/homevisiting

About ASTHVI
The Association of State and Tribal Home Visiting Initiatives (ASTHVI) is the professional organization of state, Tribal, and territorial officials who oversee home visiting programs across the country, including those funded by federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grants. Together, ASTHVI members advance the effective implementation and continuous improvement of voluntary home visiting programs that support parents and improve outcomes for families and young children. Learn more at: www.asthvi.org

For additional information or media inquiries please contact the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families media relations team.