FRN Comments

Board of Directors
2010–2011
Officers

January 10, 2012

Karabelle Pizzigati, Ph.D.
(Chair), MD
Jane Nelson, J.D.
(Vice Chair), MO

Administration for Children and Families
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
370 L’Enfant Promenade SW
Washington, DC 20447
Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer

Thomas C. Melzer
(Secretary), MO
Donald D. Roberts
(Treasurer), MO

Members
Simon Blackburn, Ph.D.
Australia

To Whom It May Concern:
Parents as Teachers (PAT) greatly appreciates the opportunity to provide comments in
response to the Request for Public Comment on the Mother and Infant Home Visiting
Program Evaluation (MIHOPE) of Home Visiting Program Models for Pregnant Women,
Expectant Fathers, and Caregivers of Children Birth through Kindergarten Entry, published
in the Federal Register on December 22, 2011 (Vol. 76, N.246). We would also like to
commend the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for their dedication to the implementation
of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting. We are extremely pleased with
the enactment of the provisions in the Affordable Care Act which, for the first time will
provide mandated federal funding for home visiting services.

T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.
(Life Member), MA
Sheila Casey, DC
C.K. (Chip) Casteel, J.D., MO
Robert B. (Brad) Cowan, MO
Carolyn Cozad, RI
Clare Eldredge, IL
Luis A. Hernandez, FL
Stephanie M. Jones, Ph.D., MA
Melissa L. Kelley, CO
Patricia Kempthorne, ID
Lisa Klein, Ph.D., KS

The MIHOPE provides the national evidence-based, early childhood home visiting
community with an unprecedented opportunity to highlight the effectiveness of this funding
opportunity while helping states to develop future strategies towards continued quality
improvement and sustainable development of their state’s home visiting networks. It is our
understanding that the MIHOPE study team has carefully reviewed updated State plans and
will be following up with States in early 2012 to gather additional information needed for
MIHOPE study site selection. Careful attention to site selection will help ensure that study
findings will inform the federal government about the effectiveness of the newly established
MIECHV program and will ultimately help states develop and strengthen home
visiting programs in the future.
Regarding the request for comments in the Federal Register Vol. 76, No. 246, we believe
that the proposed collection of information from state representatives and local program
directors is indeed necessary for appropriate site selection for the MIHOPE study. We also
believe that the estimate of burden of the proposed collection of information appears
reasonable, that the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected is adequate,
and we support the use of web-based surveys and/or use of other forms of technology which
could minimize the burden on respondents. Again, we appreciate the opportunity to provide
you with these comments. We look forward to the continued progress of the Maternal,

Our Vision: All children will learn, grow and develop to reach their full potential.
2228 Ball Drive

St Louis MO 63146

p 314.432.4330

f 314.432.8963

www.ParentsAsTeachers.org

Carolyn W. Losos
(Life Member), MO
Arthur L. Mallory, Ed.D.
(Life Member), MO
David L. Morley, MO
Charles B. Mullins, M.D., TX
Jane K. Paine
(Life Member), MO
G. Julie Palmer-Blackwell,
Ed.D., IL
Jack Tweedie, Ph.D., J.D., CO
Edward F. Zigler,
Ph.D. (Life Member), CT

President & CEO
Susan S. Stepleton, Ph.D., MO

Ex-Officio Members
Governor Jay Nixon, MO
Commissioner of Education,
Chris L. Nicastro, Ph.D., MO

Founding Director
Mildred M. Winter, MO

Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and MIHOPE. I would be happy to
discuss any questions that you may have about the comments provided. Thank you again.

Board of Directors
2010–2011
Officers
Karabelle Pizzigati, Ph.D.
(Chair), MD
Jane Nelson, J.D.
(Vice Chair), MO

Sincerely,

Thomas C. Melzer
(Secretary), MO
Donald D. Roberts
(Treasurer), MO

Members
Simon Blackburn, Ph.D.
Australia
T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.
(Life Member), MA

Scott Hippert
President and CEO

Sheila Casey, DC
C.K. (Chip) Casteel, J.D., MO
Robert B. (Brad) Cowan, MO
Carolyn Cozad, RI

Cc: Audrey Yowell, PhD, MSSS, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health
Moushimi Beltangady, MSW, MPP, Special Assistant to Deputy Assistant Secretary and
Inter-Departmental Liaison for Early Childhood
David Heppel, M.D., Director, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health
Linda Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-Departmental Liaison for Early
Childhood Development

Clare Eldredge, IL
Luis A. Hernandez, FL
Stephanie M. Jones, Ph.D., MA
Melissa L. Kelley, CO
Patricia Kempthorne, ID
Lisa Klein, Ph.D., KS
Carolyn W. Losos
(Life Member), MO
Arthur L. Mallory, Ed.D.
(Life Member), MO
David L. Morley, MO
Charles B. Mullins, M.D., TX
Jane K. Paine
(Life Member), MO
G. Julie Palmer-Blackwell,
Ed.D., IL
Jack Tweedie, Ph.D., J.D., CO
Edward F. Zigler,
Ph.D. (Life Member), CT

President & CEO
Susan S. Stepleton, Ph.D., MO

Ex-Officio Members
Governor Jay Nixon, MO
Commissioner of Education,
Chris L. Nicastro, Ph.D., MO

Founding Director
Mildred M. Winter, MO

Our Vision: All children will learn, grow and develop to reach their full potential.
2228 Ball Drive

St Louis MO 63146

p 314.432.4330

f 314.432.8963

www.ParentsAsTeachers.org