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(a) The Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program is established and shall be administered by the Department of Health.
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(b) The department shall implement the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation model developed by Dr. David Olds.
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(c) The department shall have the power to receive and expend grants, donations, and funds from public and private sources to carry out its responsibilities under this subchapter.
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(d) The department shall collect data which will allow a valid and reliable evaluation of the short-term and long-term effectiveness of this intervention in improving maternal and child outcomes. The department shall collect data which at a minimum, will provide information on the effect of prenatal and infancy home visits by nurses on all of the following:
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(1) Preterm delivery, low birth weight, and infant morbidity and mortality;
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(2) Immunizations;
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(3) Mental development and behavioral problems;
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(4) Subsequent pregnancy;
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(5) Educational achievement;
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(6) Labor force participation; and
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(7) Use of public assistance programs.
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(e) The department shall coordinate with other state agencies to track childhood injuries, childhood maltreatment, and criminal activity.
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(f) The department shall cooperate with other state agencies and the developer of the program to create a more comprehensive evaluation of the overall impact and effectiveness of the program in Arkansas.
