I think it's wonderful news. It really prevents physical abuse and neglect in disadvantaged families. Activities involved core education and linking families with community services. The targetted intervention succeeded in reducing verified reports of child abuse and neglect involving the mother. There was also a reduction in crime, drug and welfare use, and subsequent pregnancies.
Evidence also suggests nurse home visitors are more effective than lay home visitors.
Dr. MacMillan questioned the popularity of the Hawaii Healthy Start program, an approach which is widely embraced in Ontario. The program, which involved home visitation by paraprofessionals, showed promising results but methodological weaknesses. Also, the difference between the groups that received visits and those that did not was not statistically significant. The literature is controversial with regard to what role drugs and alcohol play in abuse.