Text of section effective on April 01, 2025

Sec. 526.0554.  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 have 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 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 4611), Sec. 1.01, eff. April 1, 2025.