Rhode Island Senate Bill S0677

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/7/25

Caption

Changes annual reporting requirements for the state’s family home-visiting program and also impacts appropriation and spending of funds in order to access maximum federal funding for these programs.

Impact

By revising the annual planning and funding structure of the family home-visiting program, S0677 intends to tackle the decrease in enrollments caused by financial and staffing challenges. The bill emphasizes the importance of federally available resources and mandates the allocation of state funds to leverage these resources fully. Specifically, the Rhode Island Department of Health is tasked with coordinating evidence-based home-visiting services that enhance maternal and child health outcomes, thereby directly impacting public health policy in the state.

Summary

S0677, known as the Rhode Island Family Home-Visiting Act, amends the existing home-visiting program to enhance the state's ability to access federal funds under the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. The bill changes the annual reporting requirements for the state's family home-visiting program and ensures that state appropriations are sufficient to match federal funding. This legislative effort aims to maintain and expand evidence-based home-visiting services for pregnant women and families with young children in vulnerable situations.

Contention

The bill’s focus on utilizing both state and federal resources highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the state's home-visiting initiatives, especially the state's historic inability to meet the federal match requirements. Critics may argue that the reliance on federal funding could limit the state's flexibility in administering local programs or exacerbate dependency on external funding sources. Supporters, however, contend that maximizing the potential of available federal funds is essential for addressing the needs of families and ensuring program sustainability amidst fiscal pressures.