Assessing the children's and families' needs, strengths, and interests, and translating this information into individualized short and long-term goals with the family, are key elements of the Head Start home-based program option that are part of the home visitor's role. During this presentation, home visitors will have the opportunity to identify and develop various strategies to use with families in this assessment and planning process.
To prepare for this session, refer to Chapter Two, "Completing Screening and Assessment Activities," and Chapter Three, "Planning Home Visits and Group Socialization Activities", in The Head Start Home Visitor Handbook, and/or Chapter Six, "Home Visits," in A Guide for Operating the Head Start Home-Based Program Option. You may also want to review appropriate sections of the following three publications: A Guide for Education Coordinators in Head Start, Mental Health in Head Start: A Wellness Approach, and A Guide for Providing Social Services in Head Start.
Introduction to the Video-Tape
Review with participants their agency's children's developmental screening and assessment and family needs assessment processes. The videotape illustrates various strategies for assessing and planning with the families. Ask participants to identify these examples as they view the videotape, and to identify how their agency's process is alike or different from the videotape's depiction.
Follow-Up
After viewing the videotape, ask the participants for their examples. Record their responses on a flip chart. Then, ask participants to respond to the following questions. Record their responses to these questions on a flip chart and discuss.
- How do you involve reluctant parents in the assessment and planning process?
- How do you involve parents with limited literacy skills in this process?
- How do you assist parents to identify their child's and family's needs, strengths, and interests?
- How do you help parents set goals for their child and family?
- How do you and parents design activities to help meet these goals?
- How do you and parents evaluate the outcomes of these activities?
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