2016 -- H 7220

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LC003326

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RHODE ISLAND FAMILY HOME VISITING

ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Amore, Craven, O'Brien, and Messier

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     WHEREAS, A child's first experiences and relationships set the foundation for

development and learning that leads to success in school and in life. Voluntary, high-quality,

evidence-based home visiting programs help build parenting skills and address challenges faced

by many vulnerable families with young children.

     WHEREAS, Children in at-risk families who participate in evidence-based home visiting

programs have improved language, cognitive, and social-emotional development and are less

likely to experience child abuse and neglect. Families who participate are more likely to provide a

safe, enriching home environment and become more economically secure through education and

employment. Evidence-based home visiting programs can also improve maternal and child

health, reducing long-term health care costs.

     WHEREAS, There is an existing infrastructure of home visiting programs in Rhode

Island that provides early supportive services to vulnerable families with young children who are

at risk for poor outcomes.

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 13.7

THE RHODE ISLAND FAMILY HOME VISITING ACT

     23-13.7-1. Short title. -- This chapter may be known and may be cited as "The Rhode

Island Family Home Visiting Act."

     23-13.7-2. Home visiting system components. -- (a) The Rhode Island department of

health shall coordinate the system of early childhood home visiting services in Rhode Island and

shall work with the department of human services and department of children, youth and families

to identify effective, evidence-based home visiting models that meet the needs of vulnerable

families with young children.

     (b) The Rhode Island department of health shall implement a statewide home visiting

system which uses evidence-based models proven to improve child and family outcomes.

Evidence-based home visiting programs must follow with fidelity a program model with

comprehensive standards that ensure high-quality service delivery, use research-based curricula,

and have demonstrated significant positive outcomes in at least two (2) of the following areas:

     (1) Improved prenatal, maternal, infant or child health outcomes;

     (2) Improved safety and reduce child maltreatment and injury;

     (3) Improved family economic security and self-sufficiency;

     (4) Enhanced early childhood development (social-emotional, language, cognitive,

physical) to improve children's readiness to succeed in school.

     (c) The Rhode Island department of health shall implement a system to identify and refer

families prenatally or as early after the birth of a child as possible to voluntary, evidence-based

home visiting programs. The referral system shall prioritize families for services based on risk

factors known to impair child development, including:

     (1) Adolescent parent(s);

     (2) History of prenatal drug or alcohol abuse;

     (3) History of child maltreatment, domestic abuse, or other types of violence;

     (4) Incarcerated parent(s);

     (5) Reduced parental cognitive functioning or significant disability;

     (6) Insufficient financial resources to meet family needs;

     (7) History of homelessness; or

     (8) Other risk factors as determined by the department.

     (d) Beginning on or before October 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Rhode Island

department of health shall issue a state home visiting report that outlines the components of the

state's family home visiting system which shall be made publicly available on the department's

website. The report shall include:

     (1) The number of families served by each evidence-based model; and

     (2) Demographic data on families served; and

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     (3) Duration of participation of families; and

     (4) Cross-departmental coordination; and

     (5) Outcomes related to prenatal, maternal, infant and child health, child maltreatment,

family economic security, and child development and school readiness.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RHODE ISLAND FAMILY HOME VISITING

ACT

***

     This act would establish the Rhode Island Family Home Visiting Act, pursuant to which,

the Rhode Island department of health would coordinate the system of early childhood visiting

services to meet the needs of vulnerable families with young children.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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