The Head Start Home Visit
Adrianne Brigmon, Special Services Branch, Head Start Bureau
The home visit is a basic part of a Head Start program. For the family to gain the most from the home visit, component staff of the center-based program option should coordinate as a team to serve families in the home or in the center.
Why Home Visits Should be Made? In addition to fulfilling the Performance Standards requirements, home visits provide program staff with greater insight into the children and their families, give the families a greater opportunity to get to know staff, show how important families are to the program, and add a personal touch. Finally, it may be easier for staff to travel to the parent's home than for the parent to get to the program.
Who Should Make Home Visits? In center-based programming, home visits must be made by the education staff. The social service, parent involvement, and health staff may also make home visits to improve relationships with families, to find out or follow up on family needs, or assist with crisis situations.
Education Staff: The education staff visits the family to assess the development and instructional needs of the children; to gain insight into the child's likes, dislikes, and strengths; and to gain insight about the whole family. The education staff person can help reinforce the parent's skills as their child's prime educator by planning home activities in which the parent assists with the child's progress.
Social Service Staff: The social service staff will make family contacts to assess and re-assess family needs. They may also need to contact the family about irregular participation or absences and in a family crisis situation.
Parent Involvement Staff: Parent involvement staff can encourage parents to become volunteers for the program or attend Head Start activities, help parents become aware of parenting skills, and provide parent education information.
Health Staff: A health visitor promotes preventive health services and encourages early intervention, makes sure there are no health or safety hazards in the home, and assists with food and nutrition questions. The health staff person can also provide the family with information to ensure that the child continues receiving comprehensive health care after leaving Head Start.
What Makes a Successful Home Visit? Before any home visit takes place, the Head Start program staff should establish the program rationale for going into the home. Established policies should be available for who will make the visit, how information will be shared with other staff while maintaining confidentiality, and how often visits will be made. Staff should be thoroughly trained in how to prepare for and conduct a home visit.
To prepare for the visit, staff should review available child and family files, let other staff know they are going to visit the family, and make sure there have not been too many other recent visits.
During the home visit Head Start staff should be friendly and cordial, and not overly official. The visitor should tell the parents what he/she expects to accomplish, observe what is going on in the home, and provide the parents with resources. Home visits should not be too lengthy and staff should be willing to return if another session is needed. Close the visit by reviewing what has been discussed and future plans. Leave contact information for the parent.
Head Start staff must remember that developing a trusting relationship with the family and constantly helping parents set goals are the purposes of the home visit. Above all, Head Start staff must always treat the family members with respect.
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