The federally funded, locally administered Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program sponsors family support programs that are often called "home visiting" because they take place in the homes of at-risk families. These families often lack support, experience, and knowledge of basic parenting skills. Because children don't arrive with instruction manuals, home visiting family support programs match parents with trained providers, such as nurses or parent educators. These providers visit the homes of vulnerable families regularly (generally once or twice a month) from the time a mother is pregnant through the first few years of the child's life. During this critical developmental period, parents receive support and knowledge about how to provide a safe and stimulating environment as well as information about how children grow and learn. In this voluntary program, motivated parents learn how to be successful in their new role. Children get off to a better, healthier start with parents who have the skills needed to raise them. Research shows that these family support programs work and ultimately save money for taxpayers. A number of studies find evidence of effectiveness across a spectrum of family support programs in a variety of areas, including: (1) Reduced health care costs; (2) Reduced need for remedial education; and (3) Increased family self-sufficiency. This fact sheet presents this evidence from across the country.