Sec. 137.253.  TYPES OF HOME VISITING PROGRAMS.  (a)  A home visiting program is classified as either an evidence-based program or a promising practice program.
(b)  An evidence-based program is a home visiting program that:
(1)  is research-based and grounded in relevant, empirically based knowledge and program-determined outcomes;
(2)  is associated with a national organization, institution of higher education, or national or state public health institute;
(3)  has comprehensive standards that ensure high-quality service delivery and continuously improving quality;
(4)  has demonstrated significant positive short-term and long-term outcomes;
(5)  has been evaluated by at least one rigorous randomized controlled research trial across heterogeneous populations or communities, the results of at least one of which has been published in a peer-reviewed journal;
(6)  follows with fidelity a program manual or design that specifies the purpose, outcomes, duration, and frequency of the services that constitute the program;
(7)  employs well-trained and competent staff and provides continual relevant professional development opportunities;
(8)  demonstrates strong links to other community-based services; and
(9)  ensures compliance with home visiting standards.
(c)  A promising practice program is a home visiting program that:
(1)  has an active impact evaluation program or can demonstrate a timeline for implementing an active impact evaluation program;
(2)  has been evaluated by at least one outcome-based study demonstrating effectiveness or a randomized controlled trial in a homogeneous sample;
(3)  follows with fidelity a program manual or design that specifies the purpose, outcomes, duration, and frequency of the services that constitute the program;
(4)  employs well-trained and competent staff and provides continual relevant professional development opportunities;
(5)  demonstrates strong links to other community-based services; and
(6)  ensures compliance with home visiting standards.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 421 (S.B. 426), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Transferred and redesignated from Government Code, Subchapter X, Chapter 531 by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1033 (S.B. 24), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2023.