Investing in Families Through State Home Visiting Programs

Welcome and Introductions

Child FIRST:  Case Study of a Home Visiting Model
Darcy Lowell, MD, Executive Director, Child FIRST
Mary Peniston, MPA, Deputy Director, Child FIRST
Norka Malberg, PsyD, LPC, Clinical and Training Director, Child FIRST
Silvia Juarez-Marazzo, LCSW, Mental Health and Developmental Clinician, Child FIRST
Gerdine St. Juste, MSW, Care Coordinator, Child FIRST
Laurie Burns-Gachewicz, LCSW, Mental Health and Developmental Clinician, Child FIRST
Lilibeth Carrasquillo, Care Coordinator, Child FIRST
Jasmin Romero, Child FIRST participant/parent
Moderator: Steffanie Clothier, JD, Program Director, NCSL

This session will provide an overview of Child FIRST as one home visiting strategy to address the needs of high-risk families.  The session will provide an opportunity to hear about the components of the model and its effectiveness, and to hear from a parent who has been in the program, a clinician and a care coordinator.  Child FIRST is an early childhood system of care that works to decrease the incidence of serious emotional disturbance, developmental and learning problems, and abuse and neglect among high-risk young children and families through several strategies.

Click HERE for Dr. Darcy Lowell's presentation

Putting it All Together
Representative Catherine Abercrombie, Connecticut
Karen Foley-Schain, MA, MEd, LPC, Executive Director, Children’s Trust Fund, Connecticut Department of Social Services
Janice Gruendel, PhD, MEd, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Donna Maselli, RN, MPH, State Women’s Health Coordinator, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Grace Whitney, PhD, MPA, IMH-E(IV), Director, Head Start State Collaboration Office, Connecticut Department of Education
Moderator: Elaine Zimmerman, Executive Director, Connecticut Commission on Children

Panelists will discuss challenges and successes of building a comprehensive system of home visiting in Connecticut.  Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the policy implications of Connecticut’s experience in relation to their own state’s home visiting efforts, including successes or challenges.

Click HERE to watch video recording of this session 

Legislative Policy Options:  Developing a System of Home Visiting
Karen Kavanaugh, Manager, Pew Home Visiting Campaign, Pew Center on the States
Suzin Bartley, LICSW, Executive Director, Massachusetts Children’s Trust Fund
Janet Horras, State Home Visitation Program Director, Bureau of Family Health, Iowa Department of Public Health
Moderators: Ingrid Stegemoeller, State Policy Associate, Pew Home Visiting Campaign, Pew Center on the States
Steffanie Clothier, JD, Program Director, NCSL

This session will explore the value of overarching policy in building an effective and high quality system of home visiting programs, with specific emphasis on legislation and the role of legislators in home visiting policy. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss legislation, hear about specific state examples and discuss and provide feedback regarding legislative options.

Click HERE for session handout

Home Visiting:  Supreme Court Action and Federal Budget
Brent Ewig, MHS, Director, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
Sheri Steisel, MPP, Senior Federal Affairs Counsel and Senior Director of the Human Services Committee, NCSL (By videoconference)
Moderator: Steffanie Clothier, JD, Program Director, NCSL

This session will provide an overview of the Supreme Court case related to the Affordable Care Act and implications for the federal home visiting program.  Information about the federal budget outlook will also be shared.

Capturing Medicaid Funds for Home Visiting
Melissa Harris, Director, Division of Benefits and Coverage, Disabled and Elderly Health Programs Group, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (By videoconference)
Moderator:  Libby Doggett, PhD, Director, Pew Home Visiting Campaign, Pew Center on the States

This session will explore the use of Medicaid funds for home visiting services, including the challenges and successes of several states to maximize the use of these funds.

Moving Forward
Opening remarks: Representative Mark McCullough, Oklahoma
Mimi Aledo-Sandoval, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Finance Committee, New Mexico
Moderators: Steffanie Clothier, JD, Program Director, NCSL
Jennifer Saunders, MSW, Policy Specialist, NCSL

Adjourn