SLS 21RS-3251 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 210
BY SENATOR BARROW
CHILDREN. Requests the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of Children and
Family Services, and the office of the governor to study voluntary universal home visiting
for all families with young children in the state of Louisiana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of Children and
3 Family Services, and the office of the governor to study the cost, mechanisms of
4 funding, and potential impact of voluntary, universally available, evidence-based
5 home visitations for every Louisiana family who gives birth to or adopts a baby, and
6 report the findings to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare by March 1,
7 2022.
8 WHEREAS, evidence-based home visiting programs for babies have demonstrated
9 success in improving outcomes for children and families; and
10 WHEREAS, Louisiana ranks among the highest states for maternal mortality and
11 lacks equity in access to the services that address the needs of postpartum mothers; and
12 WHEREAS, very young children represent the highest percentage of those children
13 taken into the child welfare system; and
14 WHEREAS, parents of children across the economic spectrum can benefit from
15 targeted services and supports in their baby's earliest days; and
16 WHEREAS, models of home visiting programs are already demonstrating success
17 throughout the state for families with children of all ages; and
18 WHEREAS, economic experts estimate that investments and interventions in early
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SLS 21RS-3251 ORIGINAL
1 childhood can reap a significant return on investment for the state; and
2 WHEREAS, voluntary universal home visiting services can help families identify
3 potential health issues that may lead to developmental delays, allowing for less costly
4 interventions; and
5 WHEREAS, the state could dramatically change the trajectory for many children by
6 offering voluntary universal home visiting supports to families when children are the most
7 vulnerable and their brains are rapidly developing; and
8 WHEREAS, data indicates that voluntary universal home visiting programs can help
9 states make significant gains in the health and wellbeing outcomes of all children, resulting
10 in additional gains in early learning and future school readiness.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
12 does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of
13 Children and Family Services, and the office of the governor to study cost, implementation,
14 and potential impact of a voluntary, universally available, evidence-based home visiting
15 program for all Louisiana families.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that one staff member from the Louisiana
17 Department of Health and one staff member from the Department of Children and Family
18 Services shall serve as co-chairs of the group conducting the study requested by this
19 Resolution.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies conducting the study shall also
21 consult with the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, the Louisiana Partnership for
22 Children and Families, health insurance issuers and health care providers doing business in
23 Louisiana, and any other interested community members and stakeholders.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Health shall report
25 the findings of the study to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare by March 1, 2022.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
27 secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the secretary of the Department of Children
28 and Family Services, and the office of the governor.
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SLS 21RS-3251 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Brandi Cannon.
DIGEST
SR 210 Original 2021 Regular Session Barrow
Requests the La. Department of Health, the Department of Children and Family Services,
and the office of the governor to study voluntary universal home visiting for all families with
young children in the state of Louisiana.
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