How Families describe what Home Visitors do
Offers encouragement and makes us feel like we are good parents and on the right track
- Help us to care for ourselves and find other community supports.
- Help us to identify and respond to our child’s cues
- Helps us set and work towards goals for ourselves and our family
Build Trusting Relationships
- Someone outside of my family who provides a listening ear to discuss family difficulties and challenges
- Build a trusting relationship—know we can count on our Home Visitor
- Create a relaxed environment that is educational and enjoyable
- Develop goals based on our family’s needs
Make Connections
- Make referrals to community-based resources and other supports
- Helps us to connect more to support we already have and know
Provide Information
- Offers information/knowledge about child development to strengthen our parenting skills and to help our children reach developmental milestones
- Responds to our questions and concerns
- Provides opportunities for hands-on real learning experiences
- Is aware of potential problems and point these out
- Shows us learning activities, e.g., games and rhymes, how to read to our children
- Teaches us to problem solve
Advocate
- Connects us with other service providers/organization
Resource: Exploring Best Practices in Home Visitation, Partners for Best Practice in Home Visitation, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada