Dad and baby

Model Profiles

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 697 home visitors in 2022. 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 126 supervisors in 2022. The model requires a bachelor’s degree for supervisors.

Where is the model implemented?

HIPPY operated in 99 local agencies across 19 states and the District of Columbia in 2022. HIPPY also operated outside the United States and its territories in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, Liberia, New Zealand, and Paraguay in 2022.

 

Families Served Through Evidence-Based Home Visiting in 2022

257,159
home visits provided
including 45,017 virtual visits
11,193
families served
12,201
children served

Ethnicity

41% Hispanic or Latino

59% Not Hispanic or Latino

Primary language

67% English

30% Spanish

3% Another language

Child age

0% <1 year

22% 1-2 years

78% 3-5 years

Child insurance status

63% Public

29% Private

8% None

Household income

91% Low-income status

9% Not low-income status

Caregiver education

17% No HS diploma

39% HS diploma or GED

24% Some college or training

20% Bachelor's degree or higher

Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.