The Childhood Begins at Home campaign released new fact sheets showing the number of young children and their families receiving publicly funded, evidence-based home visiting services statewide and in each county.
Home visiting plays a vital role in helping Pennsylvania families thrive. Evidence-based programs that support pregnant women and families with young children are making a meaningful impact by strengthening parent-child relationships, improving maternal and child health, and promoting school readiness and long-term stability.
Despite these benefits, the proposed 2026–27 state budget holds funding steady at $48.4 million (in the Community Based Family Center line and Nurse-Family Partnership line in the Department of Human Services budget) for the fourth consecutive year, even as program costs rise. Current services reach just 17,335 families or about 3% of those who could benefit, leaving significant unmet need across the state.
Home visiting works: decades of research show it can reduce child maltreatment, improve health outcomes, and support economic stability. As Pennsylvania looks ahead, increased investments will be critical to expanding access, strengthening the workforce, and ensuring more families receive the support they need during the earliest and most important years of a child’s life.
Learn more about the impact of home visiting and the eight evidence-based home visiting models in Childhood Begins at Home.