Home visits key to care for kids faced with traumatic experience
As evidence of the impact of childhood trauma continues to permeate child-serving institutions, teachers, social workers, pediatricians and caregivers are changing the way they interact with children who have been subjected to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Of the many techniques and programs developed to provide traumainformed care, home visiting is among the most studied and evidence-based approaches to mitigating or preventing childhood trauma.
Before the end of this legislative session, our lawmakers have a chance to restore funding for home visiting through an amendment to Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed budget.
In 2012, state budget restraints resulted in a 50 percent reduction in home visiting funding. Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner has been supportive of funding for home visiting, and Haslam’s team included recurring funding for home visiting in the state’s budget.
However, the proposed budget is still $1.4 million short of the pre-2012 level. State Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) and state Sens. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) and Steve Dickerson (RNashville) have proposed an amendment to the budget to restore $1.4 milprovides
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lion for a total home visiting budget of $3.4 million. This change requires votes by both the House and Senate Finance Committees.
There are several proven models targeted for different outcomes. The specific Tennessee model in need of restored funding is known as Healthy Start.
Partnering with new parents in the home, professionals administer programs that provide and connect parents with a wide range of services focused on child health and development, promoting school readiness, and enhancing parenting skills. They are fundamental to preventing child adversity and often abuse and neglect.
Most families that receive these services are living at or below the poverty level. As of 2017, our state is home to 118,580 children under the age of 5 who also live in poverty – which often creates conditions leading to toxic stress and childhood trauma.
At the current level of funding, Tennessee is able to provide home visiting services to only 1.7 percent of those children. And of the 95 counties in Tennessee, 45 counties have no home visiting services at all.
These grim statistics are even more disturbing when one considers that home visiting has a proven track record. Evidenced-based home visiting a return of $5.70 for every $1 invested.
Research on home visiting has demonstrated impacts for children and families, such as infant and maternal health, education attainment and readiness, reduction of child abuse, and positive, supportive parenting practices.
Evidence-based home visiting models have shown positive long-term impacts on school readiness, reduced child abuse, and reduced lifetime arrests and convictions. Adding to the efficacy of home visiting, many states are now employing home visiting models specifically to combat the opioid epidemic.
As the legislative session winds down, members of the finance committees must consider hundreds of amendments to the proposed budget, many for worthwhile programs and initiatives.
In weighing the needs of our state, I urge our leaders to give ample consideration to the impact home visiting can have on families and children living in poverty and experiencing toxic stress and trauma.
While the proposed $1.4 million will not dramatically increase the number of children served, it will change the lives of some, and more importantly signal a state commitment to changing the trajectory of children and families impacted by childhood trauma.
Lisa Wiltshire is policy director for Tennesseans for Quality Early Education.
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