Exploring the Expansion of Home Visiting Services to Infant Beneficiaries Aged 18 to 36 Months: A Landscape Analysis of Maternal Infant Health Program
Michigan has eight evidence-based home visiting models to support families at various stages of their pregnancy and parenting journey, collectively known as the Michigan Home Visiting Initiative. While the various models have their own eligibility criteria, typically the enrollment period for services begins prenatally and extends to approximately 18 months or two years of age. There are a limited number of models that extend enrollment and services beyond 18 months, and they are specific to unique populations. There is a recognized gap in service delivery within the Michigan Home Visiting structure, which limits access to trusted and valued home visitors for infants and their caregivers between 18 months and three years of age.
Key findings
- Over half of the respondents reported having submitted an exception request and providing home visiting services to families with children aged 18-36 months within the past two years.
- MIHP providers identified a variety of social determinants of health that needed to be addressed for families in this demographic, especially mental health and housing instability. Social support, or emotional support, was also identified as a top need.
- Most MIHP agencies reported connecting families to local community services and referring them to other age-appropriate programs, if available. However, responses and interview findings also indicated long wait times for some age-appropriate programs in certain regions.
- MIHP providers highlighted difficulties in transitioning families with complex needs out of MIHP when the child is 18 months of age. Funding and budget constraints were reported as the top challenge preventing MIHP agencies from fully meeting the needs of families with children aged 18-36 months.
- The vast majority of MIHP agencies surveyed were willing to serve families in this age group if all needs were met (such as funding and staffing), but noted that evidence-based educational resources focused on this age range, increased funding, and well-coordinated community services would be essential to effectively serve these families moving forward.