How We Strengthen Home Visiting for California Families

I’m proud to have worked in home visiting for over 20 years, meeting families at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives: just after childbirth. Through those experiences, I’ve learned that these families welcome support, even though they may be reluctant at first. And when leaders champion these programs, they create real opportunities for families to thrive.

The CalWORKs Home Visiting Program (HVP) is critical to supporting these new and expectant parents. As a state-funded home visiting program, CalWORKs HVP provides funding for evidence-based programs across the state and has led to life-changing outcomes for both parents and children. Children Now is proud to have played a key role in the creation of CalWORKs HVP. By collaborating closely with key partners like First 5’s, national home visiting models, and community-based organizations, all of whom helped build support statewide and educate policymakers, we were able to get this important policy across the finish line and get families needed support. 

Now, we are working to strengthen and improve alignment of this critical program across the state. AB 607, authored by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and co-sponsored by Children Now and the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), would allow families enrolled in the CalWORKs HVP to stay enrolled for the full duration of the home visiting model. This is significant, because the field across the state raised the need to update statutory language that would align families’ access to, enrollment, and completion of the program with standard practices in the field.  

Why does this matter? Because it gives families more time to access support and gives providers the time they need to fully implement their programs to fidelity and achieve the full benefit for the child, family and state investment. It is a timely proposal that improves access while maintaining cost neutrality.  

The success the CalWORKs HVP has had on families is backed up by data. A 2022 state evaluation of the program showed that families were referred to more than 26 services, with the most frequent being food, housing, and mental health supports. Between 60–90% of those referred accessed services and 91% of participating children received a developmental screening, compared to just 23% of kids on Medi-Cal alone. 

To further strengthen the program, Children Now conducted a statewide interview project with more than 50 partners that included providers, First 5s, counties, state agencies, and model developers. Their insights shaped our A Statewide Approach to Strengthening Home Visiting report, which highlighted the need to align program eligibility with the home visiting models being used across California. That is exactly what AB 607 aims to do. Together, this data and stakeholder input tell a powerful story: Home visiting works, but we need stronger infrastructure, better coordination, and more inclusive policies to ensure every family who is eligible and wants it can access it.  

Children Now is committed to making that a reality. We believe improving access to voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs means maximizing existing funds and searching for other financing opportunities that include Medi-Cal (Medicaid) funding, offering multiple entry points, ensuring culturally responsive, high-quality services, and aligning systems at the state and local levels. This vision is reflected in Children Now’s policy agenda and in the 2024 California Children’s Report Card and 2025 California County Scorecard, both of which elevate home visiting as a critical strategy for supporting families. 

I am proud to be part of this work and grateful to work alongside our home visiting team and countless leaders across the state who share their wins and challenges with us, partner with us on advocacy efforts and work relentlessly to connect families to these programs during a vulnerable and important transition in their lives. Together, we are building something that will last and have an influence on the lives of families across California.