Can we measure risk in home visitation? An examination of the predictive validity of the Healthy Families Parenting Inventory (HFPI)

•Empirical validation of outcome instruments developed for use in early childhood home visitation to predict a family's risk for future maltreatment provides an untapped opportunity to support home visitors.•Several dimensions of the HFPI that were designed to assess program outcomes represent some of the same factors that are associated with risk.•The validation of the HFPI presents an opportunity for prevention and community-based programs to use an instrument like the HFPI as a measure of program success related to reduction in risk for child maltreatment.