Below is a release on a policy statement appearing in the February issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: January 26, 2009, 12:01 am (ET)

A revised AAP policy statement reviews the history of home visiting programs in the United States, and reaffirms that these programs help ensure families have appropriate social support and ongoing health and safety education. The policy, “The Role of Preschool Home-Visiting Programs in Improving Children’s Developmental and Health Outcomes,” outlines the benefits of home-visiting programs and reports sufficient evidence that home visiting can drastically reduce violence, child abuse and delinquency, especially for at-risk families. Successful home-visiting programs appear more successful when performed by professionally trained staff. Pediatricians should become familiar with and participate in the development of home-visiting programs in their communities to help reduce disparities in health and development.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.