Committee backs $6M grant for nurse home visitation to prevent child maltreatment

The committee voted to advance HB2828, a proposal to appropriate $6 million and five full-time positions for a Nurse Home Visitor grant program to be administered by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). Sponsors and advocates described the program as an evidence-based prevention strategy to improve maternal and child outcomes and reduce child maltreatment.

Representative Lopez said nurse-home visitation provides weekly support beginning in pregnancy through a child’s second birthday and cited program outcomes. Testimony from the Women’s Foundation and Nurse-Family Partnership emphasized research showing benefits including reduced preterm births and lower rates of child abuse; Madeline Ramirez (Nurse-Family Partnership) said the model produces strong returns on investment and currently serves roughly 475 mothers in Maricopa and Pima counties.

Committee members raised a drafting concern: language saying the department shall award monies ‘to 1 eligible organization’ could be read as limiting grants to a single grantee. Advocates said the intent is a competitive grant program and that multiple providers would apply; sponsors agreed to technical corrections to clarify competitive awards and state-level distribution.

After stakeholder clarification and assurances about competitive grants and continuity-of-service expectations, the committee returned HB2828 with a due-pass recommendation (vote recorded as 10 ayes, 2 nays). Members requested follow-up information on other states’ spending and historic county participation before floor consideration.