The following are updates provided by Brent Ewig,

 Once again we are approaching a crossroads for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. As a reminder, Congress created MIECHV in 2010 to improve health and developmental outcomes for children and families who reside in vulnerable communities through implementation of evidence-based voluntary home visiting programs. The program builds on decades of research demonstrating the value of home visiting as a service delivery strategy, with an original authorization providing $1.5 billion for fiscal years 2010-2014.

 Funding for this critical effort was set to expire Sept. 30, 2014, but last March Congress included an extension in a larger bill addressing Medicare payment rates for physicians (also known as the "doc fix"). Congress now needs to act by March 31, 2015 to extend funding for this program.

Over the past few years, AMCHP has been working in partnership with a broad coalition advocating for continuation of MIECHV. Some of our main activities include educating members of Congress and their staff on the purpose and value of home visiting; cultivating champions to lead efforts to continue the program; and seeking data and stories that can help support our key messages.

 As for next steps, there are indications an extension could be considered as part of the next "doc fix" exercise. Congress will punt the decision until closer to the March 31 deadline and, as always, the cost and sources of money to pay for the extension are expected to be sticking points. As the process unfolds, we continue to raise the point that participating families, states and communities need certainty as soon as possible to plan for the continuation of services and to ensure that the resources invested to date are not abandoned.

 In early December, a letter signed by over 750 national, state, tribal and local organizations as well as elected state officials was distributed urging Congress to extend funding for the MIECHV program.  AMCHP helps lead the home visiting colation that spearheaded this letter. We think it provides a great illustration of the widespread support for MIECHV and will be a great tool to increase momentum to extend the program.  The letter can be viewed here MIECHV Letter to Congress

 On February 3rd, President Obama released his FY 2016 budget proposal. The budget includes a call to extend and expand the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV), proposing $500 million for FY 2016 and continued expansion to over $2 billion annually by 2025. The president's budget marks the start of the official FY 2016 appropriations process.  The action now moves to Capitol Hill and will continue through the spring and summer. In Congress, the president's budget is seen as a statement of his administration's priorities.  Congress will now begin their process to draft a budget resolution and subsequent appropriations bills reflecting their priorities.

• Developing strategies to improve performance;
• Identifying solutions to work related issues;
• Developing greater self-awareness;
• Improving skills and knowledge application;
• Setting goals and developing strategies to accomplish them;
• Improving responsibility and accountability.

• The Kansas MIECHV Program launched actual program services in January 2012. We are celebrating three full years of program implementation in Montgomery County and Wyandotte County, and two full years in Cherokee and Labette Counties. 
• 781 MIECHV enrolled families were served January 2012-December 31, 2014.
• 375 families were served in October-December 2014, including 42 newly-enrolled.
• 166 families have been enrolled for over 12 months.