Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) voted to reauthorize an evidence-based, fully paid-for, program that strengthens and improves home visiting services for families in at-risk communities. The House-passed Increasing Opportunity and Success for Children and Parents through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act (H.R. 2824) reauthorizes the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program for five years.

Bost also voted for the Control Unlawful Fugitive Felons (CUFF) Act (H.R. 2792), which prohibits  individuals who are the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant for a felony or parole violation from receiving monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Savings from the House-passed CUFF Act will be used to pay for reauthorization of the MIECHV Program.

“Strengthening our families means strengthening Southern Illinois’ future,” said Bost. “This legislation helps break the cycle of poverty for at-risk families.  At a time when the American people are demanding their taxpayer dollars be used more efficiently, these home visiting services have proven effective at getting positive results. On top of that, we’ve fully offset the spending by redirecting it away from federal payments that were being made to fugitive felons.”

Background:

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) is an evidence-based program that helps to improve the lives of families in at-risk communities, focusing on the first years of a child’s life. Unlike most federal social programs, MIECHV funding is tied to real results. MIECHV takes an evidence-based approach to ensure taxpayer dollars are actually delivering the intended results and helping those most in need.

By voluntarily participating in local home visiting programs, families receive help from health, social service, and child development professionals. Through regular, planned home visits, parents learn how to improve their family's health and provide better opportunities for their children. Home visits may include:

  • Supporting preventive health and prenatal practices
  • Assisting mothers on how best to breastfeed and care for their babies
  • Helping parents understand child development milestones and behaviors
  • Promoting parents’ use of praise and other positive parenting techniques
  • Working with mothers to set goals for the future, and find employment and child care solutions

 

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