An old West African proverb originating in Nigeria states, “It takes a village or community to raise a child.” Throughout the pandemic, our “villages” were abruptly interrupted with an urgent alert to stay home and many parts of our communities—churches, schools, libraries, sporting events—were shut down as we collectively tried to be safe.
Even though our cities and communities are now opening back up and our lives are beginning to see some normalcy, we still feel the impact of the pandemic. Like the old West African Proverb, our youngest and most vulnerable citizens still need the loving hearts of an entire village. As such, state agencies have received federal dollars for their efforts to support this vulnerable population.
The federally funded Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) provides needed help and assistance to qualified families.
“This program pairs families who often have limited support and resources with trained home visitors such as nurses, social workers, and educators. Home visitors meet with parents in their home from pregnancy through their child’s kindergarten entry to help lay the foundation for the health, education, development, and economic self-sufficient of the entire family.”[1]
These caring professionals can make a world of difference for a family’s survival, particularly in our multiple-complexed world.
State agencies receiving federal funding in support of families include the Illinois Department of Human Services, Healthy Families Illinois, Parents Too Soon, the Illinois State Board of Education Prevention Initiative, and the Illinois Head Start Association. As we continue advocating for healthy children, it is essential to share this information with our constituents and communities.
For more information about the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, please visit ffyf.org/issues/miechv.
[1] “Maternal, an Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV)” in First Five Years Fund, accessed on June 4, 2021, https://www.ffyf.org/issues/miechv/