Scalable Home Visitation for At-Risk Mothers and Children Ages 0-3

The ECS program operates through an operating budget of more than $8 million. A major barrier to success would be a lack of funding. However, in 12 years of operations, we have been able to secure the resources necessary, through partnerships in the business, medical and social communities, by tapping into state and federal resources and by maintaining, by seeking and winning grant funds and by reporting to our constituents our impressive outcomes every year. We’ll continue these development activities and will increase our vigilance, especially in the arena of public funding, which is vulnerable to political changes and budget adjustments. In terms of expanding outside the U.S., a major barrier to be overcome is making contact and developing relationships in another country and culture. However, we have colleagues in the early childhood and home visitation field from all over the world, and will use these connections to find the right combination of great need and capable human resources.

ECS was developed and founded in partnership and is supported today through its strong partnerships with the business community, social sector and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). Board members serve and lead at ECS from Procter & Gamble, Western Southern, Ohio National, TimeWarner, PNC, Macy’s (Federated), Fifth Third Bank and others. These leaders make certain that ECS operates under a strict and efficient business model, resulting in a strong infrastructure, effective leadership and an impressive ROI for ECS families, investors and the greater community. In the social sector, the local United Way is a major supporter and partner of ECS, as are the 16 Lead Partner Agencies around Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky that use ECS programming through their home visitors. Finally, CCHMC provides a home base for the administrative offices of ECS. Through CCHMC, we also are able to conduct and publish research with our wealth of data, the influence of a world-class medical institution raises the standards of health care for our ECS families, and pediatric residents at CCHMC often serve in our Medical Home initiative, making sure that all ECS children are attending well-child visits with a family physician.

Every Child Succeeds is made possible through the generous support of many financial partners. Approximately 50 percent of funding comes from public sources through participation in the Ohio Help Me Grow and Kentucky HANDS programs. In Ohio, sources of public funding include General Revenue Funds and Part C Funds. These funds are provided by the Ohio Department of Health through the county Family and Children First Councils. In Kentucky, sources of public funds include Medicaid and Tobacco Settlement dollars, provided through the Northern Kentucky Independent Health District. Funding from private sources comprise 50 percent of Every Child Succeeds' budget. The United Way of Greater Cincinnati contribution of $2.5 million represents the largest component of these funds. Other sources include Butler County United Way and numerous individual and corporate donations. Charitable contributions make a tremendous impact in the lives of mothers and their infant children, who receive the program's services at no charge. Current funding allows the program to reach only about 28 percent of eligible families system wide (and 20 percent in Hamilton County). Additional funding would allow for more families to be reached and/or for the implementation of new enhancements.