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Health Care Reform and Home visitation.
August 11, 2009 2:47PM
By Joe Wise
Chuck Norris found this? How funny is that! Section 440 of the Proposed House Health Care Reform Bill.
So I heard that Chuck Norris found something in the proposed House Health Care bill that disturbed him. After laughing really hard about all the Chuck Norris needing health care jokes in my head... I decided to look at what he found directly in the bill. Here it is.
SEC. 440 HOMEVISITATION PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPECTING CHILDREN.
“(a) PURPOSE. --The purpose of this section is to improve the well-being, health, and development of children by enabling the establishment and expansion of high quality programs providing voluntary home visitation for families with young children and families expecting children.
“(b) GRANT APPLICATION. --A State that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary for approval, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, an application for the grant that includes the following:
“(1) DESCRIPTION OF HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS.-- A description of the high quality programs of home visitation for families with young children and families expecting children that will be supported by a grant made to the State under this section, the outcomes the programs are intended to achieve, and the evidence supporting the effectiveness of the programs.
“(2) RESULTS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT.--The results of a statewide needs assessment that describes--
“(A) the number,quality, and capacity of home visitation programs for families with young children and families expecting children in the State;
“(B) the number and types of families who are receiving services under the programs;
“(C) the sources and amount of funding provided to the programs;
“(D) the gaps in home visitation in the State, including identification of the communities that are in high need of the services; and
“(E) training and technical assistance activities designed to achieve or support the goals of the programs.
“(3) ASSURANCES.--Assurances from the State that---
“(A) in supporting home visitation programs using funds provided under this section, the State shall identify and prioritize serving communities that are in high need of such services, especially communities with a high proportion of low-income families or a high incidence of child maltreatment;
“(B) the stat will reserve 5 percent of the grant funds for training and technical assistance to the home visitation programs using such funds;
“(C) in supporting home visitation programs using funds provided under this section, the State will promote coordination and collaboration with other home visitation programs (including programs funded under title XIX) and with other child and family services, health services, income supports, and other related assistance;
“(D) home visitation programs supported using such funds will, when appropriate, provide referrals to other programs serving children and families; and
“(E) the State will comply with subsection (i), and cooperate with any evaluation conducted under subsection (j).
“(4) OTHER INFORMATION. --Such other information as the Secretary may require.
It looks like subsection (I) (page 847) describes the reports to the Secretary and subsection (j) goes through how it is to be evaluated.
It appears instead of improving the existing home visitations as required by many States Welfare programs they want to add another reason for coming into our homes and telling us how to raise our children. Apparently people in Washington D.C. do not realize that many States already offer these programs. Instead of fixing the problems with the current systems they want to create a whole new one ON TOP of them, creating a whole new set of problems.