Helping Families Through Upheaval: How Home Visiting Programs Supported Families’ Economic Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic upended society physically, socially, emotionally, and for many, economically. Early childhood home visiting programs were able to help families with economic issues but also faced challenges in doing so. Early childhood home visiting programs had to shift from in-person home visits to virtual visits and adapt planned content to serve families with pressing economic needs. Home visiting staff also had to contend with their own pandemic-related challenges, including stress, isolation, and the logistics of caring for their own families while trying to support the families they served. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report examines the economic experiences of families with children ages birth to 5, families, or pregnant family members during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how select early childhood home visiting programs supported families’ economic well-being during the pandemic.