Summary
Home visits provide an opportunity for school staff and families to come together at a non-threatening location to learn more about their learners and their families, develop partnerships with families, and bridge cultural gaps that might occur between a learner and teacher. Staff members report that home visits have a lasting effect on the child, the family, and the staff member.
Home visits are:
- Acceptable for all learners and families, prenatal through post-secondary.
- Purposeful and intentional, with clear outcomes decided upon between the family and provider.
- Voluntary for the providers and families.
- Focused on building relationships between the provider and the family.
- For all students and families (no targeting).
Considerations
- How can we ensure safety of staff?
- What funding sources are available?
- Is there time within the school day to provide home visits?
- Can we offer after school hours for families?
- Are staff being culturally responsive to each family?
- Can we provide translators for non-English proficient families?
Suggestions
- Provide adequate training prior to participating.
- Conduct staff visits in pairs.
- Offer time for staff debriefing following visits.
- Offer Local, statewide, and national organizations grants to offset cost.
- Use Section 31a, Title I, II, IV, and V funding, if available.
- Allocate time for staff to conduct home visits and provide compensation.
- Use scripts or suggested introduction scripts to begin a conversation that leads to open dialogue.
Resources
Parent Teacher Home Visit Project
National Home Visiting Resource Center
Parents as Teachers
