Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

Home Visiting 101:The Ins and Outs of Home

Visits with Head Start Families

Summer Webinar Series: Part One

Tina Sykes, M.EdInfant/Toddler Specialist

Head Start State Based T/TA Office for Arizona

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

2

Objectives

Participants will:• review HS Performance Standards related to

Home Visiting• identify key components of establishing

positive professional relationships with Head Start families

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

3

Agenda

• The What and Why of Home Visiting• Head Start Performance Standards • Home Visiting in Head Start• Building Professional Relationships

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

4

What is Home Visiting?

Home visiting is an early childhood intervention that can enhance parenting and promote the growth and development of young children

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

5

Why Home Visiting?

Home Visiting – Uses the home

environment to help parents create rich learning opportunities for their children

– Provides support to families whose life circumstances may prevent them from participating in a more structured setting

– Is flexible and offers support and child development information to families on their schedule

– Offers accessibility to families who live in rural communities and who otherwise would not be able to receive services

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

6

Performance Standards

• 1306.33 Home based program option– (b) Home visits must be conducted by trained

home visitors with the content of the visit jointly planned by the home visitor and the parents. Home visitors must conduct the home visit with the participation of parents. Home visits may not be conducted by the home visitor with only babysitters or other temporary caregivers in attendance.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

7

Performance Standards continued…

• 1306.33 Home based program option– (1) The purpose of the home visit is to help parents

improve their parenting skills and to assist them in the use of the home as the child's primary learning environment. The home visitor must work with parents to help them provide learning opportunities that enhance their child's growth and development.

– (2) Home visits must, over the course of a month, contain elements of all Head Start program components. The home visitor is the person responsible for introducing, arranging and/or providing Head Start services.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

8

Frequency and duration of home visits

(a) Grantees implementing a home based program option must:

• (1) Provide one home visit per week per family, lasting for a minimum of 1 and a half hours each

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

9

Frequency and duration of home visits

1306.32 Center Based Option8) Head Start grantees must develop and implement a system that actively encourages parents to participate in two home visits annually for each child enrolled in a center based program option. These visits must be initiated and carried out by the child's teacher. The child may not be dropped from the program if the parents will not participate in the visits.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

10

Frequency and duration of home visits

Home visits that are cancelled by program staff must be rescheduled to meet the required

number of yearly home visits

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

11

Home Visiting in Head Start

• Home visits must occur in the home: medical visits or social service visits can NOT replace a home visit

• Home visits are conducted with the parent or primary caregiver

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

12

Home visiting in Early Head Start

EHS home visits providecomprehensive services tosupport and strengthenthe relationships betweeninfants, toddlers and theirparents

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

13

Home Visiting is a PARTNERSHIP

• Successful home visiting requires a partnership between the visitor and the family

• That partnership begins with the home visitor developing a professional relationship with the Head Start family.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

14

Building Professional Relationships

• Begins at first contact with family

• Takes time, effort and intentionality

• May look different for families under stress

• Must include explanation of the “C” word

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

15

The “C” word…

CONFIDENTIALITY

Confidentiality Guidelines•Importance of maintaining confidentiality•Mandated Reporter Role•Sharing information with others

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

16

Fundamentals of Relationship Building

Relationships are the foundation of our work

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

17

FAB FIVE Fundamentals of Relationship Building

BoundariesEmpathic ListeningHonesty RespectConsistency

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

18

Boundaries

“Boundaries are the framework within which the worker/client relationship occurs.

Boundaries make the relationship professional and safe for the client and set the parameters

within which services are delivered.”(College of Psychologists of Ontario, 1998)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

19

Key Boundary Questions

1. What are the costs?What are the benefits?

2. What is my motivation?

3. What is my role?What is the work?

4. What am I committing myself to?

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

20

Progression of Boundary Problems

• Boundary Inattention

• Boundary Crossing

• Boundary Violations

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

21

Boundary Inattention

The problem is primarily the worker’s absence of awareness of the significance of a family’s frequent appearance in his/her thoughts or

activities outside of work

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

22

Boundary Crossing

A “crossing” indicates a point at which some action occurred that usually did not result in

harm to the family.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

23

Boundary Violation

A “violation” results in harm to the family and worker

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

24

Maintaining Professional Boundaries

• Be intentional when setting boundaries• Let families know the boundaries you have set• Be honest with yourself and seek supervision

when needed

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

25

Empathic Listening

“Empathy is the ability to project oneself into the personality of another person in order to better understand that person’s emotions or feelings. Through empathic listening, the listener lets the speaker know, I understand your problem and how you feel about it. I am interested in what you are saying and I am not judging you.”

(Salem, 2003)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

26

Benefits of Empathic Listening

• builds trust and respect• enables the families to release their emotions• reduces tensions• encourages the surfacing of information • creates a safe environment that is conducive

to collaborative problem solving

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

27

Empathic Listening

How to do it:– Ask permission– Ask open-ended questions– Listen and encourage verbal and non verbal

prompts– Reflect /summarize some of what you hear– Ask a key question– Show appreciation

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

28

Honesty

Honesty is stating an emotionally neutral description of what’s really happening in a

particular situation.

(Michael H. Smith, Ph.D.)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

29

Responding with Honesty

A family says….1. I think I should leave my husband.2. My daughter made me so mad yesterday I

just had to spank her.3. I’m pregnant (said by a teen mom who also

has a 3 year old and a 15 month old).

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

30

Respect

Respect is an attitude of acknowledging the feelings and interests of another party in a

relationship.

(Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

31

How can we show respect for families…

• In their homes• In the office• In verbal interactions and greetings• In physical conduct• In regards to time

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

32

Showing respect is sometimes hard…

There are some times or situations when it may be difficult to show respect and accept the

decisions of families.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

33

Consistency

Not varying; always behaving or happening in a similar, especially positive way.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

34

Maintaining Consistency with families

In order to form effective relationships with families, it is imperative that our work be

consistent in all respects.

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

35

Consistency Tools

• Treating families equally and fairly• Follow-through and follow up• Modeling expectations for the relationship• Bravery in the face of conflict

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

36

Let’s sum it up…

• There are Home Visiting performance standards that we must be sure to follow

• Developing professional relationships is ESSENTIAL when home visiting:

REMEMBER THE FAB FIVE• Home Visiting is hard work… make sure you

get the support you need

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

37

When you hang up the phone…

Here are some things to consider:• Do my home visiting practices meet the Head Start

Performance Standards? If not, what do I need to change?

• What are my professional boundaries? Have I shared these boundaries with the families on my caseload?

• As a home visitor, am I seeking and receiving the support I need in order to effectively serve families? If not, what steps can I take to get the support I need?

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

38

Final Thought….

The role of the Home Visitor is as a:facilitator NOT directorcoach NOT teachersupporter NOT evaluator

PARTNER WITH PARENTS

~ Linda Kimura, Babies Can’t Wait

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

39

The Arizona Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Office and STG International thank you for joining our webinar today!

Please continue to join the 2010 Summer Webinar Series occurring every Tuesday and Thursday during the months of

June and July at 3:00 Pacific Daylight Time.

Please contact Mary Kramer Reinwasser at mary.reinwasser@stginternational.com for more information.

39

Head Start State-based T/TA Office for ArizonaA member of the National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network

40

Mark your calendars!

Be sure to join me for Home Visiting Part 2 on June 17 from 3:00-4:00. Discussion topics

include:

Structuring home visitsLinking home visits to socializationsHome visitor safety and stress management