Learning Session: Identifying Priority Families for Home Visiting Services

On Friday, May 20, 2022, the Government Performance Lab (GPL) led a discussion with practitioners from three jurisdictions that have expanded access to home visiting programs or similar supports about how they prioritize their outreach efforts to ensure these services reach the families who need them most.

Featured speakers:

• Shalyn Bravens, Director of Family Connects and MIECHV, United Way for Greater Austin
• Kristine Campagna, Associate Director of Community, Health and Equity, Rhode Island Department of Health
• Amy Malen, Assistant Deputy Director, Office of Community Services, Allegheny County Department of Human Services

Over the course of the conversation, participants elevated three key takeaways:

1. More broadly accessible program models can help overcome stigma and fear around accessing prevention services.
2. Even agencies testing more “universal” home visiting programs must make choices about how to prioritize their resources.
3. Even simple choices about prioritizing families for outreach or services can carry racial equity and ethical risks, such as increased surveillance bias.