MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOMEVISITING GRANT PROGRAM - PROJECT ABSTRACT CONNECTICUT OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOO...

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MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOMEVISITING GRANT PROGRAM - PROJECT ABSTRACT CONNECTICUT OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD 450 COLUMBUS BLVD. HARTFORD, CT 06103 PROJECT DIRECTOR: ASHLEY TOSTARELLI PHONE: (860) 500-4435 EMAIL: ASHLEY.TOSTARELLI@CT.GOV AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL: ASHLEY MCAULIFFE WEBSITE ADDRESS: CTOEC.ORG REQUESTED GRANT FUNDS: $ 10,847,002 PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THE MIECHV GRANT IS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE HOME VISITING SERVICES TO FAMILIES RESIDING IN HIGH- RISK COMMUNITIES. IN FY24, EIGHTEEN COMMUNITY AGENCIES WILL IMPLEMENT HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, USING EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS WITHIN ALL EIGHT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. GOALS & OBJECTIVES: FOR THE FUNDING PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 – SEPTEMBER 29, 2026, THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD WILL: 1. IMPLEMENT VOLUNTARY, HIGH QUALITY, HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, USING EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS THAT HAVE SHOWN EFFECTIVENESS AROUND OEC- IDENTIFIED OUTCOMES AND THE STATUTORILY MANDATED BENCHMARKS. 2. PROVIDE VOLUNTARY HOME VISITING PROGRAMS TO FAMILIES RESIDING IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN A STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 3. SEEK COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SERVICES THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED CONNECTICUT HOME VISITING CONSORTIUM. 4. CONTINUE TO USE ACTIVE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT CONSISTING OF HIGH FREQUENCY, DATA-INFORMED, COLLABORATION BETWEEN OEC PROGRAM STAFF AND LIA STAFF TO ACHIEVE TARGETED OUTCOMES SPECIFIED IN THE AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INCLUDING IMPROVED HEALTH, SAFETY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, SCHOOL READINESS. 5. CONTINUE IMPLEMENTATION OF RATE CARD CONTRACTING. THE RATE CARD PROVIDES INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO PROVIDERS FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUTCOMES THAT 1.) GENERATE SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND GOVERNMENT, 2.) ARE MEASURABLE AND CAN BE LINKED TO ADMINISTRATIVE DATA SYSTEMS, 3.) FOCUS ON TWO- GENERATIONAL IMPACTS, AND 4.) OFFER ALL PROVIDERS AN EQUAL AND FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO EARN INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. METHODOLOGY: USING THE EVIDENCE BASED MODELS OF CHILD FIRST, HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA, NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AND PARENTS AS TEACHERS, THE OEC WILL SERVE FAMILIES RESIDING IN THE FOLLOWING 21 HIGH-NEED COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE 2020 STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT; BRIDGEPORT, ANSONIA, DERBY, NEW HAVEN, KILLINGLY, NEW LONDON, PLAINFIELD, NORWICH, PUTNAM, WINDHAM, EAST HARTFORD, VERNON, MANCHESTER, BLOOMFIELD, HARTFORD, DANBURY, TORRINGTON, CANAAN, WINCHESTER, SHARON, WATERBURY, NEW BRITAIN AND MERIDEN. SERVICES WILL PRIORITIZE ENROLLMENT TO THE MIECHV POPULATIONS AS WELL AS THE OEC TARGET POPULATIONS OF PRENATAL FAMILIES, TEEN PARENTS, AND WOMEN AT HIGHEST RISK FOR POOR PREGNANCY OUTCOMES AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES. CAPACITY OF MIECHV PROGRAMS, AS OF MARCH 31, 2024 IS 860 FAMILY SLOTS WITH A CURRENT CAPACITY OF 110% (880 FAMILY SLOTS) AND FOR FY24, CT MIECHV CAPACITY WILL BE 858. THIS CHANGE IN CAPACITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH RE-ALLOCATION OF FUNDS BETWEEN MODELS AND THE DIFFERENT CASELOAD CAPACITIES OF THE MODEL HOME VISITORS. KEY ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE LINKAGES AND REFERRALS NETWORKS; CT WILL: 1) CONTINUE TO SUPPORT REGIONAL NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR RECRUITMENT AND REFERRAL AGREEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS; 2) MAINTAIN AND FULFIL MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENTS (MOAS) WITH SEVERAL STATE AGENCIES TO FOSTER REFERRALS AND THE COORDINATION OF SERVICES.