Statewide Implementation of Virtual Perinatal Home Visiting During COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Public Health Program Evaluation
• Telehealth in Healthcare

Background:

• The Florida Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Initiative provides crucial perinatal support services.
• Florida MIECHV has a history of resilience and adaptation during crises.
• The program's infrastructure supported rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the adaptation strategies of MIECHV administrators and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To understand the impact of the pandemic on home visiting services for pregnant women and families with infants.
• To assess the transition to virtual home visiting models.

Main Methods:

• Data collected via 60 MIECHV staff surveys.
• Nine statewide weekly focus groups conducted with staff.
• Qualitative analysis of administrative and staff experiences during the pandemic.

Main Results:

• Key factors for success included administrative leadership, communication, and staff morale.
• Families faced significant hardships: job loss, food insecurity, and technology limitations.
• Home visitors provided vital resource connection, public health education, and virtual evidence-based curricula.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic necessitated and validated the transition to virtual home visiting services.
• Virtual home visiting is a feasible and essential modality for supporting vulnerable maternal and child populations.
• The program's adaptability ensured continued support for families despite unprecedented challenges.