The Development and Evaluation of a Statewide Training Center for Home Visitors and Supervisors

Abstract

Highlights• We developed a state-wide training center for infant home visitors.• Training content was developed through an iterative process of community partner feedback.• Home visitors reported increases in self-confidence following training in most competency areas.• Participant evaluations of training are consistent with positive results from an RCT of training.Abstract This paper informs practice in communitybased home visiting workforce development by describing the development and evaluation of a university-based training certificate program for home visitors and supervisors. The Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation (ISF; Wandersman et al., 2008) guides our conceptualization and paper organization. The ISF describes the components involved in translating research findings into effective implementation of prevention programs. We describe implementation and lessons learned from seven development activities: (a) review of the literature, (b) survey of other training initiatives across the country, (c) focus groups with home visitors and supervisors, (d) consultation with individual home visitors, (e) creation of a state advisory board of home visiting providers and stakeholders, (f) evaluation of two pilot trainings, and (g) video development. We then present evaluation data from 49 home visitors and 23 supervisors who completed the training certificate program after the pilot trainings. Both home visitors and supervisors rated training satisfaction highly, reported significant increases in self-efficacy related to the training topics, and reported extensive use of motivational communication techniques, which are the foundational skills of the training content. These and other favorable results reflect the benefits of building on advances in theory and sciencebased practice and of involving providers and stakeholders repeatedly throughout the development process.

New Perspectives on the Child‐ and Youth‐Serving Workforce in Low‐Resource Communities: Fostering Best Practices and Professional Development

“…A mixed method study by Schultz et al. () documents the collaborative development of a university‐based training certificate program for home visitors and supervisors, and how these development activities improved workforce attitudes and their use of foundational skills. Frazier et al.…”

Contributions of Preventive Social Services in Early Childhood Home Visiting in a Disadvantaged Area of Sweden: The Practice of the Parental Advisor

“…An interactive encounter between parents and professionals carries the home visiting intervention in Rinkeby and the parental advisor works systematically to promote this encounter using facilitator skills and techniques. The importance of this type of skill is recognized in the parenting support literature in terms of communication skills ( Bidmead et al, 2015 ; Blue-Banning et al, 2004 ; Schultz et al, 2019 ; West et al, 2018 ) or process delivery skills ( Moore et al, 2012 ). Davies et al (2017) outline how skills in engaging authentically with families through a set of connecting behaviors are part of best practices in provider–parent interaction.…”

Coaching home visitors: A thematic review with an emphasis on research and practice needs

“…Video is an accepted means of coaching caregivers to support quality parenting practices (Dozier et al., 2006; Fisher et al., 2016; Green et al., 2015; Hoffenkamp et al., 2015; Lind et al., 2014; Provenzi et al., 2020). Audio and video recordings can also support fidelity (Costello et al., 2019; Shanley et al., 2013) and home visitors’ professional growth.…”