Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW)®
Last updated: 2018
In brief
Evidence of model effectiveness
This model does not meet the criteria established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an “evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery model” for the general population or for tribal populations because the findings from high- or moderate-rated effectiveness studies of the model do not meet all required criteria.
Model description
The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) Program targets underserved communities and primarily serves low-income, stressed, and isolated families with children from birth to age 3. The model is designed to improve child and maternal health, increase use of linkages and referrals, and build positive parenting skills. MIHOW employs parents from the local community as home visitors and role models who educate families about nutrition, health, children’s development, and positive parenting practices. The home visitors also provide links to medical and social services. For more information, please read the Model Overview.
Extent of evidence
For more information, see the research database. For more information on the criteria used to rate research, please see details of HomVEE’s methods and standards.
Criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Notes: If the model does not meet criterion 3 but meets criteria 1 and 2 based on findings from subgroups, the impacts must be replicated in the same domain in two or more studies using non-overlapping analytic study samples. HomVEE assesses and reports criteria 4 and 5 for all models that have well-designed research, but meeting those two criteria is only required of models for which all findings are from randomized controlled trials. Please read the HHS criteria for evidence-based models for more information.