Introduction

Extensive research shows that evidence-based, voluntary home visiting programs improve child and family outcomes, and save money for states and taxpayers. Now, the next generation of research is deepening understanding of those program elements that are essential to success, ways to improve existing models, and factors to consider in tailoring home visiting to local contexts and particular target populations. 

The following 11 studies—commissioned by the Pew Home Visiting Campaign-underscore the need for continued evaluation and monitoring of home visiting services in order to maximize effectiveness as programs expand to serve more families in a greater diversity of settings. Indeed, several of the studies identify key challenges policymakers need to address as they expand state programs. Specifically, the reports detail:

• The benefits and limitations of home visiting for children, families, and taxpayers
• The value of expanding home visiting to more families
• The important program characteristics that predict better outcomes
• The advances in measuring program quality in home visiting
• The advantages of understanding and encouraging greater program participation
• The new approaches being added to existing strategies

This work grew out of a desire to support a research agenda aimed at increasing policymakers’ confidence in and commitment to home visiting and at expanding the body of knowledge needed to improve services for families. The views and opinions expressed in the reports are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.

This research was made possible by the generous contributions of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County. These findings are exclusively the work of the commissioned researchers and do not necessarily reflect the view of Pew or the other funders.

The full reports and executive summaries are available for download. Below are brief overviews of the findings with links to the reports.

Pew-commissioned home visiting research was featured in the January 2013 issue of the Journal of Zero To Three. Read a letter from Pew Home Visiting Campaign Director Libby Dogget.

Scroll forward or extend the table of contents to read brief overviews of the finding with links to the reports.

Report Assets