Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) partners with parents to prepare their children for success in school. The model uses storybooks and a scripted curriculum to teach children school readiness skills and partner with parents to enrich their education and job skills. The model also seeks to strengthen communities by supporting civic engagement and employing home visitors from the community, many of whom have participated in the program.
What is the model’s approach to providing home visiting services?
Home visits take place once per week. Services are provided until the child exits kindergarten. Children must be 2 years old by the start of the program year to enroll in HIPPY for Little Learners and 3 years old to enroll in the Year 1 curriculum.
HIPPY’s service population includes the following:
- Families with low incomes
- Families with children ages 2 to 5 years old
- Caregivers with limited access to education
- Immigrant families experiencing language barriers
- Home-based child care providers
Who is implementing the model?
Home Visitors
HIPPY was implemented by 583 home visitors in 2025. The model requires a high school diploma for home visitors; a Child Development Associate credential is recommended. Home visitors are required to maintain a caseload of 10 to 22 families.
Supervisors
HIPPY was implemented by 128 supervisors in 2025. The model requires a bachelor’s degree for supervisors.
Where is the model implemented?
HIPPY operated in 100 local agencies across 16 states and the District of Columbia in 2025. HIPPY also operated outside the United States and its territories in Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Liberia, New Zealand, and Paraguay in 2025.
Families Served Through Evidence-Based Home Visiting in 2025
Race
<1% American Indian Alaska Native
4% Asian
24% Black
4% Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
62% White
6% Multiple
Ethnicity
36% Hispanic or Latino
64% Not Hispanic or Latino
Primary language
66% English
31% Spanish
3% Another language
Caregiver Age
2% ≤21 years
29% 22-29 years
56% 30-44 years
12% ≥45 years
Household income
32% ≤$20,000
35% $20,001- 40,000
18% $40,001- 60,000
15% ≥$60,001
Child age
24% 2 years
76% 3-5 years
Child insurance status
61% Public
29% Private
9% None