(a) The department of health, in collaboration with the department of mental health and substance abuse services, is authorized to establish and administer an early childhood mental health home visiting program as a voluntary, evidence-based, and home-based intervention to promote the mental health, developmental progress, and family stability of children from birth to five (5) years of age and their families.
(b) The purpose of the program is to provide intensive, home-based services to families with young children facing significant stressors, including, but not limited to, poverty, trauma, domestic violence, or parental mental health or substance abuse challenges. The program must aim to:(1) Improve child mental health and developmental outcomes;(2) Reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect;(3) Enhance parental capacity to support child development;(4) Strengthen family stability through coordinated access to community resources; and(5) Promote school readiness and long-term health equity.
(1) Improve child mental health and developmental outcomes;
(2) Reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect;
(3) Enhance parental capacity to support child development;
(4) Strengthen family stability through coordinated access to community resources; and
(5) Promote school readiness and long-term health equity.