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Home Visiting - Essential Components
All the following components are equally important. Research has shown that home visitation programs that do not include the following components are not as effective. 1
- Voluntary -Parents who are voluntarily involved are more receptive to services.
- Family focused - Effective programs respond to the unique needs of each individual family. Optimally, parents are involved in choosing service design and content.
- Respect for diversity - Families are more likely to engage in services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. Effective programs value diversity. Quality programs recognize and appreciate the cultural bases of parenting and avoid stereotyping.
- Connection to other community services - Effective programs collaborate and coordinate with other community services to ensure that families are receiving all the services they need.
- Targeted - Scarce resources are most effectively utilized when services are targeted to those families with the greatest need.
- Begin early - Effective programs begin services as early as possible, optimally prenatally.
- Intensive - Interventions that are frequent and occur over a long period of time have more significant and sustained effects.
- Long term - Optimally, services continue until child is at least 2 years old.
- Promote preventative health care - Effective programs support and encourage families to utilize preventative health care and connect with a primary health care provider.
- Promote delay of subsequent pregnancies - Effective programs support and encourage participants to delay subsequent pregnancies when appropriate.
- Limited caseloads - Service providers with limited caseload are better able to meet the needs of their clients. Caseload limitations will vary with program purpose and focus.
- Well-trained staff - Effective programs employee well-trained staff. Program staff is selected based on their education, work, and life experiences, as well as their ability to communicate and establish trusting relationships.
- Ongoing supervision - Effective programs provide staff with continuous, high quality supervision.
- Strength based - Effective programs build on family strengths and work to empower parents.
- Promote education - Effective programs support and encourage participants to finish high school.
Home Visiting
1 Gomby, D., Larson, C. S., Lewit, E. M. & Behrman, R. E. (1993). Home Visiting: Analysis and Recommendations. Future of Children, 3 (3), 6 - 22.
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