Home visitors support New Mexico Families in a host of ways, including connecting them with services and supports in their communities. In a new study published in Academic Pediatrics, CCPI researchers examined 10 years of data from the First Born home visiting program to learn about the conditions under which referrals are most successful. The study found that about one quarter of referrals made by First Born home visitors resulted in families enrolling in services. This rate was higher for referrals to early intervention, and lower for referrals to behavioral health and domestic violence services. The study also found that pregnant mothers enrolled in referred services more often than non-pregnant mothers, with an even lower uptake rate for referrals aimed at fathers.
"These findings suggest, not surprisingly, that some rererral connections are easier to make than others," said study principal investigator Hailey Heinz. "One of the patterns we see is that referrals that are explicitly for children, such as early intervention, are easier to make than referrals aimed at parents, especially dads. Parents may be willing to get help for their kids, but not themselves."