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a parent or caretaker relative of a child-only case, or apparently eligible for CalWORKs aid. Counties may serve additional parenting individuals with departmental approval.

The purpose of the HVP is to support positive health, development and well- being outcomes for pregnant and parenting people, families, and infants born into poverty. By helping families achieve stability and keep their children in the home while participating in the HVP, the program hopes to lay the foundation for other long-term goals such as future educational opportunities, economic progress, and greater financial stability – all while providing the tools necessary to end their time on government aid and achieve self- sufficiency. This two-generational service delivery approach will improve family engagement practices, support healthy development of young children living in poverty, and prepare parents for robust engagement in WTW activities and employment.

Home visitors with pre-service training in an evidence-based home visiting model, the CalWORKs program, cultural competency, and implicit bias refer clients to a multitude of resources.

Resources include prenatal, infant and toddler care; infant and child nutrition; child developmental screening and assessments; parent education, and training in parent/child interaction; child development and child care referral; job readiness and barrier removal; domestic violence and sexual assault services; and mental health and substance abuse treatment and support.

CalWORKs clients may choose to participate in the HVP who are:

• a pregnant individual, • a member of an assistance unit with a child under 24 months old, • a parent or caretaker relative, or • are apparently eligible for CalWORKs cash aid but their application has not yet been approved.

However, the HVP participant does not need to be eligible for, nor are they required to participate in, the CalWORKs WTW program.

If a client participates in the CalWORKs WTW program, then some of the activities spent directly with the home visitor may count towards federally allowable work activities, in alignment with federal activity definitions, time limits, and California’s Work Verification Plan.

For example, job search and job readiness (JS/JR) is a federally countable activity for 120 hours up to 180 hours total in a 12-month period. While the entire duration of a Home Visit may not count as JS/JR, some components of that Home Visit may count. For example, one of the home visiting models used in California includes a component known as Family Goal Planning. This component of the home visit is individualized goal setting with the client, including a plan for the family to become self-sufficient. In the case of a two-hour Home Visit in which one hour was spent doing individualized goal planning for self- sufficiency, California would only count one hour towards JS/JR.