Investing in Families: The Case for Expanding Home Visiting in Massachusetts

Last week, the Children’s Trust hosted an important conversation at the Massachusetts State House about the impact and future of home visiting programs in the Commonwealth. The briefing underscored the proven benefits of home visiting programs in preventing child abuse and neglect while strengthening family well-being. The event, which was covered by the State House News Service, also highlighted a key funding request: a $1.5 million increase in state investment to support home visitor retention for Healthy Families Massachusetts (HFM), a program within the Children’s Trust’s network.

This request comes at a critical time: recent research from Tufts University found that for every dollar invested in HFM, the Commonwealth sees a future cost savings of $3.11. These savings stem from reductions in maternal depression, homelessness, and child maltreatment recurrence—demonstrating the long-term impact of supporting families early.

Home Visiting: A Proven Strategy for Strengthening Families

Home visiting programs like HFM and those administered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) serve more than 6,000 families annually. These programs connect parents with trained home visitors who offer guidance, emotional support, and parenting resources during a child’s critical early years.

Research shows that participation in Healthy Families Massachusetts led to:

• A 36% decrease in parenting stress
• A 32% reduction in subsequent reports of abuse and neglect
• Lower rates of substance use and homelessness
• Higher employment and educational attainment for parents

Yet, despite the clear benefits, Massachusetts currently reaches only 5.3% of children under age three in families with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level. With a coordinated plan in place, the Children’s Trust and DPH aim to increase their impact and serve 12,000 families in the next five years.

The Challenge: Retaining Home Visitors

At the heart of home visiting programs are the dedicated professionals who build strong, trusting relationships with families. However, staffing shortages threaten the stability of these programs. A staggering 63% of home visitors in Massachusetts earn below the living wage in their county. Many leave not because of a lack of passion for the work, but because their salaries do not support their own families’ financial stability.

This turnover disrupts the very relationships that make home visiting so effective. When home visitors leave, families often discontinue services—losing a critical support system for their family.

Massachusetts has an opportunity to make a smart, cost-effective investment in home visiting programs. The federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program offers a 3:1 federal match for state home visiting investments, providing an unprecedented opportunity to expand services and reach more families.

By increasing state funding for HFM by $1.5 million, Massachusetts can:

• Retain experienced home visitors and stabilize the workforce
• Expand services to reach more families in need
• Leverage federal matching funds for greater impact

At the legislative briefing, program participant Rosibel Marcano shared how home visiting transformed her family’s life:

“Losing my mother while raising young children was one of the hardest experiences of my life. My home visitor became my rock—helping me navigate my grief while also supporting my children’s development. Home visiting is more than just a service; my home visitors were my therapist, my support system, my community, and the experts I could rely on.”

Rosibel Marcano, participant

Her story is one of thousands that illustrate the power of home visiting and the vital role these programs play in strengthening families across the Commonwealth.