COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than $13 million in federal funding will support Ohio families through a home-visiting program for parents and young children, the Health Resources and Services Administration and Nationwide Children’s Hospital announced Oct. 5, 2026. The funding is part of a national allocation exceeding $500 million for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. The initiative aims to improve maternal and child health and support healthy childhood development through services delivered to families at home. “Children’s first teachers are their parents,” HRSA Administrator Tom Engles said, adding that helping parents can benefit children and families in Ohio and across the country. Shemya Wilson, who received support after her son was born, said the program connected her with nurses when she needed help. She described the service as meeting families where they are and said the experience shaped the person she is today. The program recorded more than 1 million home visits to over 158,000 parents and children nationwide last year. Wilson urged families experiencing postpartum challenges, as well as the people around them, to seek support and share information about available resources. The announcement did not specify how the Ohio funding will be divided among providers or how many families it is expected to reach. Nationwide Children’s Hospital lists a maternal-infant home-visitation program among its family support services.