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CONTACTS:
Beth Kaplan, Department of Health Services, (608) 267-3810
Stephanie Hayden, Department of Children and Families, (608) 261-9330
WISCONSIN RECEIVES $1.16 MILLION GRANT TO EXPAND AND
IMPROVE HOME VISITING SERVICES FOR AT-RISK FAMILIES
MADISON—A new $1.16 million grant through the
Affordable Care Act will be used to expand and improve the quality of home
visiting services in at-risk communities. The new funding will help local
communities improve maternal and newborn health, school readiness, and
community resource coordination, and reduce child maltreatment and
injuries, and domestic violence.
“Home visiting programs lay the foundation for children’s healthy
development and reduce the risk of poor birth outcomes, child abuse and
neglect, and school failure,” said Reggie Bicha, Department of Children
and Families Secretary. “With these additional resources, we can bring
together a wider range of services to address the challenges of vulnerable
families and help ensure that they will succeed in the future.”
The grant is targeted to communities with high rates of poor birth
outcomes, poor maternal and child health, poverty, crime, domestic
violence, high school dropouts, substance abuse, unemployment or child
maltreatment. Funded programs must be evidence-based (programs with
documented results) or promising practices (programs with preliminary
findings of positive results). Technical assistance will be provided to
help current programs meet these criteria.
“The problems we are trying to address are long-term, systemic issues
that no one entity can address. Collaboration at the state, federal and
local levels is needed to help us reach these goals,” said Karen
Timberlake, Department of Health Services Secretary. “By enhancing
current home visiting services and supporting new programs, we can make an
important difference in the lives and futures of Wisconsin families.”
Wisconsin has received several similar grants through the health care
reform act which will expand coverage and improve care in the state.
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Last Revised: August 02, 2010 |
