The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced $1.6 million in new federal funding today to expand home visiting services that improve maternal and child health in American Samoa.
The money is part of more than $525 million in Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to 56 states and jurisdictions. HRSA says it is the largest investment in the program’s history.
Trained home visitors meet regularly with expecting mothers and families with young children, focusing on rural, low-income and higher-risk families. HRSA says research shows voluntary home visits can help prevent chronic disease and child abuse and neglect, promote school readiness, and strengthen family finances.
“Supporting parents early gives children a stronger start,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels, who announced the awards in Columbus, Ohio, on today Child Health Day.
Since 2022, the program has served 15 percent more parents and children and delivered 23 percent more home visits. In fiscal year 2025, it provided more than 1 million visits to over 158,000 parents and children nationwide.
