MIECHV Funding & LIA Agencies Explained
What MIECHV is, how it funds Delaware's home visiting programs, and the role of Local Implementing Agencies.
Understanding the federal funding structure behind Delaware's home visiting program helps explain how services are organized, how agencies are selected, and why reporting and accountability are built into every aspect of program operations.
What Is MIECHV?
Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) is a federal grant program established under the Affordable Care Act. It is jointly administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MIECHV provides formula and competitive grants to states, territories, and tribal entities to fund evidence-based home visiting programs for at-risk families with young children.
How Delaware Receives MIECHV Funding
Delaware receives an annual MIECHV formula grant through DHSS / Division of Public Health (DPH), which serves as the state lead agency. DPH is responsible for program oversight, federal reporting, and ensuring that services meet MIECHV evidence-based model requirements.
DPH does not deliver home visiting services directly. Instead, it sub-grants funds to Local Implementing Agencies (LIAs) through a competitive contracting process. Each LIA is awarded a contract to deliver one or more evidence-based home visiting models in a defined geographic zone.
What Are LIAs?
Local Implementing Agencies are nonprofits, community health organizations, or government agencies contracted by DPH to deliver home visiting services on the ground. Each LIA:
- Employs Family Support Specialists (FSS) who conduct home visits
- Is assigned to one of Delaware's 9 MIECHV geographic zones
- Delivers one or more approved evidence-based models (HFD, NFP, PAT, or EHS)
- Has at least one supervisor who submits monthly reports to DPH
Performance Measures and LIA Reporting
MIECHV requires states to report on a set of federal performance measures covering family outcomes such as infant health, child development, and family economic self-sufficiency. LIA supervisors submit monthly data to DPH through the Supervisor Portal, and that data rolls up into Delaware's annual federal reporting. Accurate and timely LIA reporting is essential for maintaining grant compliance and continued funding.