Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program
Pregnancy and parenting can feel overwhelming, but families do not have to navigate this journey alone. Louisiana’s home visiting services connect expectant parents and families with a registered nurse or certified parent educator who works side-by-side with them to provide personalized education, guidance, encouragement, and connections to community resources. Families can receive support with pregnancy, newborn care, parenting, child development, finances, life goals, and other challenges that may arise along the way.
Services are offered through two evidence-based models:
- Nurse-Family Partnership: pairs first-time mothers with a registered nurse during pregnancy
- Parents as Teachers: pairs families with parent educators who support families who are expecting a baby or have young children by helping parents build skills, understand their child’s development, and connect with needed services and resources
Louisiana’s home visiting services are no-cost, voluntary, confidential, and designed around each family’s needs. Families can contact MIECHVReferrals@la.gov directly to learn more or sign up. Health care providers and community partners may also refer families after discussing the services with them.
How Home Visiting Can Help
Home visiting is part of a strong community support system, Nurses and parent educators not only provide direct support to families, but they also link/connect families to other services they want/need in their local communities. For example, nurses and parent educators can help families find and navigate health care, early childhood programs, food and nutrition assistance, financial resources, and other community supports.
Home visiting services are also by the program’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Team. Through consultation, the team works with home visitors to support interactions that promote healthy family relationships and strengthen parents’ efforts to nurture their children’s social and emotional development.
Participating families can receive support with:
- Health education and coaching
- Building positive parenting skills and caregiving confidence
- Setting and reaching personal goals, such as returning to school or work
- Understanding child health and development
- Connecting to healthcare, social services, and community resources
Program Availability and Eligibility Requirements
Nurse Family Partnership
Nurse-Family Partnership is designed for first-time mothers and provides support during pregnancy through their child’s second birthday. Families qualify for services when the mother:
- Is expecting her first baby*
- Enrolls before 29 weeks of pregnancy (earlier enrollment, preferably by 16 weeks of pregnancy, is encouraged)
- Is eligible for one or more of the following at the time of sign-up: Medicaid, Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Lives in one of the following parishes where Nurse-Family Partnership is available:
- Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, LaSalle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, and Winn parishes
*Women may be allowed to enter the program under special circumstances, such as a woman who has lost a child, surrendered her child to adoption, or lost custody of the child within the first 30 days after delivery.
Parents as Teachers
Parents as Teachers supports expectant families and parenting families with children 36 months or younger at enrollment. Service delivery is provided for a minimum of two years from the date of enrollment.
Families may qualify for services if they:
- Are expecting a baby or are parenting a child 36 months or younger
- Are eligible for one or more of the following at the time of sign-up: Medicaid, Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Live in one of the following parishes where Parents as Teachers is available:
- Allen, Ascension, Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Grant, Iberville, Jefferson, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Red River, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. John, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Union, Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn parishes
Note: Priority is given to Nurse-Family Partnership graduates and families with children 12 months or younger, with preference provided for families with children 4 months or younger.
About the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Statewide Needs Assessment
Louisiana uses a Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Statewide Needs Assessment to understand where families and communities may need additional support. The assessment is a federal requirement and provides a comprehensive overview of maternal and child health, child development, family well-being, and community risk factors.
The assessment examines information such as:
- Maternal and child health outcomes
- Infant mortality and preterm birth rates
- Poverty levels and unemployment
- Crime and domestic violence rates
- Availability and accessibility of services
The findings help Louisiana identify communities with the greatest needs, guide funding and strategic planning, inform continuous quality improvement, and support decisions about program expansion and service delivery.
Get Started or Make a Referral
Families who are pregnant, have a young child, or are looking for additional support can contact the program team to learn what services are available in their community and whether they may qualify.
Families: Email MIECHVReferrals@la.gov to learn more or sign up.
Health care providers and community partners: Talk with families about home visiting services first, then send a referral to MIECHVReferrals@la.gov.
Helpful Links from MIECHV
Home Visiting Outcomes Data ›
See how home visiting has helped thousands of families in Louisiana.
Questions and Materials ›
Email MIECHVReferrals@la.gov with questions or to request promotional materials.
1-800-251-BABY Helpline ›
Support staff are available 24/7 to answer questions and link families to resources in their area.
Contact MIECHVReferrals@la.gov with any questions.
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