Frequently Asked Questions

HomVEE reviews existing research about early childhood home visiting models. HomVEE assesses the quality of the research and whether it shows evidence that a model is effective. HomVEE does not make determinations about which models are eligible to be implemented using MIECHV funds. See FAQ “Are models on HomVEE’s website automatically eligible for MIECHV funding?” for more information about MIECHV eligibility.

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program supports implementation of early childhood home visiting models to help pregnant women and families with young children to improve their health and well-being. MIECHV uses HomVEE to ensure that the models it supports demonstrate evidence of effectiveness.

A HomVEE designation as an evidence-based model does not guarantee that a model is eligible to be implemented with MIECHV funding. To be implemented using MIECHV funds, a model must meet statutory requirements for a model (as determined by HRSA), including the HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness (as determined by HomVEE). The list of MIECHV eligible models is provided in the model search. In addition, MIECHV’s authorizing statute allows awardees to utilize a portion of their MIECHV funding for a model that qualifies as a promising approach. For additional information on the MIECHV Program, see the HRSA website.

The HomVEE model search provides a pre-filtered list of MIECHV-eligible models. You can use the search features on this page to easily find models that align with your specific needs. This page allows you to search for models by favorable results in specific outcome domains, ages of the children served, intended populations corresponding to MIECHV-priority populations, and specific implementation characteristics, such as duration or intensity of home visiting services, available program languages, and experience working with Indigenous communities.

For a more in-depth look at a specific model, click on the model name in the search results. This will bring you to a model profile that includes a model overview, intended populations and outcomes, and information on implementation support available from the model developer.

HomVEE uses the term “evidence-based model” to refer specifically to a model that meets HHS criteria developed based on statutory requirements in the authorizing legislation for the MIECHV Program. HomVEE recognizes that other systematic reviews may use different criteria to evaluate evidence of effectiveness. Thus, an evidence-based model in the context of HomVEE might or might not meet requirements for evidence of effectiveness according to other systematic reviews. The HHS criteria for an evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery model are designed to ensure confidence in model impacts through replicated findings from well-designed research.

All research, including research that includes virtual service delivery, is subject to the same standards and procedures. HomVEE groups together all research on a model to apply the HHS criteria unless the model developer indicates that particular manuscripts are research on an adaptation of their model.

HomVEE assesses whether each model meets the HHS criteria for an “evidence-based early childhood service delivery model.” To operationalize the HHS criteria related to studies, and because study findings may be reported across several manuscripts, HomVEE rates manuscripts based on the highest-rated finding reported in that manuscript. Any high- or moderate-rated finding from a study about a model is considered as part of the evidence base for that model. Notably, for models with research solely from either randomized controlled trial (RCT) or single-case design (SCD) studies, additional criteria apply (see the HHS criteria). For example, the additional criteria for RCTs to be from peer-reviewed journal articles and to have sustained findings align with MIECHV Program statutory requirements. The HHS criteria for an evidence-based model have no additional requirements for regression discontinuity design (RDD) or non-experimental comparison group design (NED) studies.

A model may be evidence based on the strength of subgroup findings alone only if the research about it satisfies all of the subgroup criteria.

For details, please see the HHS criteria for evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery models.

No. A model may be evidence-based, according to HHS criteria, on the strength of either RCT research or quasi-experimental design (QED) research (including non-experimental comparison group, single-case, and regression discontinuity designs). The research must be of high or moderate quality based on HomVEE’s published standards. Additional HHS criteria apply when the research uses an RCT design. For details, please see the HHS criteria for evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery models.

Users can find a filtered list of models that meet the HHS criteria on the Model Search page by clearing the "MIECHV Eligible" filter. The information is also available in the summary brief, available on the HomVEE Summary page. Notably, a HomVEE designation as an evidence-based model does not guarantee that a model is eligible to be implemented with MIECHV funding.

The HHS criteria do not consider the magnitude of impacts in determining whether a model has evidence of effectiveness.

Even though magnitude is not considered in the HHS criteria, HomVEE reports standardized effects (or, effect sizes) for findings rated high and moderate when they are available in the manuscripts or the HomVEE team had enough information to calculate them. Effect sizes can be found in the "Effects shown in research" section of each model effectiveness research report. The reports can be accessed through the Model Search Page.