Expanding Home Visiting Access in Maryland: Funding for Readiness Assessments

The Maryland Department of Health is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) to conduct readiness assessments for initiating or expanding home visiting services in settings not currently funded through the Maryland Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MD MIECHV). The goal of this RFA is to increase the number of families served through the program by initiating or expanding evidence-based home visiting services. Applicants will describe the need for targeted, intensive, evidence-based home visiting services in their communities and use data to support their descriptions of priority populations to be served, anticipated geographic reach of services, and existing home visiting services in the community. The applicants will also establish a readiness assessment steering committee and conduct the readiness assessment by utilizing multiple data sources. • The RFA is open to applicants that do not currently receive MD MIECHV funding, with priority given to applicants from Calvert and Frederick counties. • The applicants will submit a final report by July 15, 2026, detailing the findings from their readiness assessment. • The Department intends to make up to 4 awards as a result of this RFA. • The current RFA for readiness assessments is a crucial first step in achieving the expansion of home visiting services. • The applicants are expected to demonstrate a genuine interest in initiating or expanding evidence-based home visiting services.