Maternal, Infant, & Early Childhood Home Visiting

Pregnancy and parenting support are of vital importance to a new mom’s health and her baby’s growth. To help your clients or patients navigate pregnancy and parenthood, refer them to one of our evidence-based home visiting models: Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) and Parents as Teachers (PAT). These services pair families with registered nurses or certified parent educators who provide personalized education, support and coaching, and referrals to services to empower families to reach their goals. Nurses and parent educators work with families in their homes or the family’s preferred location.

Participating families receive these services:

• Health education and coaching
• Support in building positive parenting skills and caregiving confidence
• Help setting and reaching personal goals, such as returning to school or work
• Connection and referrals to services and community resources

Benefits of program participation include:

• Improved economic self-sufficiency
• Early identification of developmental delays
• Improved child health and development

Home visiting services are augmented by the MIECHV Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Team. Through consultation, the team works with home visitors to support interactions that promote healthy relationships in families and strengthen parents’ efforts to nurture their children’s social and emotional development.

These no-cost, voluntary services are statewide. Referrals can be made by healthcare providers or an interested family can refer themselves. The program is a great way to complement the healthcare services received from a provider and to help families achieve optimal health and well-being.

Eligibility Requirements

Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
Serves families from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday.

• Available in the following parishes: 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,  Vermillion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, and Winn. 

• • Must be a first-time mother.*
  • Must enroll before 29 weeks of pregnancy. Early enrollment is encouraged, preferably at or before 16 weeks.
  • Must live in the parish where NFP services are received.
  • Must be eligible for one or more of the following at the time of sign-up: Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, TANF, or SSI. 

*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 (PAT)
Services and supports are provided to expectant or parenting families with children 36 months or younger. Families can receive services for up to three years.

• Available in the following parishes: Avoyelles, Ascension, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Caldwell, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Grant, Iberville, Jefferson, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Union, Webster, Winn, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll and West Feliciana.

  • For pregnant women OR parenting families with children 36 months and younger.
  • Priority is given to Nurse-Family Partnership graduates and families with children 12 months or younger.
  • Must live in the parish where PAT services are received.
  • Must be eligible for one or more of the following at the time of sign-up: Medicaid, WIC, SNAP, TANF, or SSI.