Alberta Home Visitation Network Association

Alberta Home Visitation Network Association

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Personnel Toolkit

Guidelines for Home Visitation Programs

Suggested Home Visitor Minimum Knowledge and Skills Checklist (pdf)

Suggested Supervisor Minimum Knowledge and Skills Checklist (pdf)

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Guidlines for Home Visitation Programs

GHVP= Guidelines for Home Visitation Programs
GK= Great Kids Inc
P.I.P.E.= Partners in Parenting Education

	Home Visiting Standard	Indicators	Hours	Home Visiting Resources
1	Program goals, objectives and services (GHVP p. 26)	knowledge of agency policy and procedures, program goals and objectives service delivery mandate by agency, region, province	3-4 hours	Agency orientation
2	Roles and Responsibilities of Home Visitors (GHVP p. 26)	knowledge and understanding of job description and expectations. knowledge of confidentiality and informed consent (GHVP p.24) knowledge of FOIPP, Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Working Alone Act	2 hours	Agency Orientation and provincial guidelines Home Visitor Training Invest in Kids core training Healthy Families America Great Kids Inc Teaching Family Model
3	Promote Positive Parent-child relationships (GHVP p.7)	identify and promote healthy parent-child interactions identify attachment challenges assist parent to recognize and promote healthy attachments	12-16 hours	Ounce Scale Parents as Teachers Right from the Start Invest in Kids-core training Healthy Families America Great Kids Inc Community Specialist Resource Guide Invest in Kids
4	Improve Parenting Knowledge and Skills (GHVP p. 7)	knowledge of positive parenting practices different temperaments and how it affects behaviour discipline strategies differences in parenting styles and their impact on children ability to provide information on positive parenting practice and issues that may arise (positive parenting - any behaviour that promotes healthy growth and development and promotes dignity and self esteem of family members) observe and model and encourage positive parent-child interactions encourage parents to observe their child's behaviour to gain a better understanding of how to guide behaviour recognize parenting practices that may be inappropriate to the child, and explore alternative approaches with the parent	Ongoing training 8-16 hours	Teaching Family Model Ounce Scale Healthy Families Curriculum Invest in Kids-core training Great Kids Inc P.I.P.E. Parents as Teachers Hawaii Healthy Start Community Specialist Comfort, Play and Teach
5	Foster Healthy Child Development (GHVP p. 7) Early Childhood growth and development (GHVP p. 26)	Child Development knowledge of child development and is able to focus on improving parents' knowledge of child development (GHVP p. 22) able to identify age appropriate milestones able to identify possible developmental challenges Strategies knowledge of strategies to assist parents in promoting healthy child development and ability to assist parents to promote a stimulating environment to enhance child development Literacy knowledge of language acquisition, early language development and family and adult literacy knowledge of early language literacy development strategies able to promote school readiness able to promote early language and literacy development supporting family in their own literacy development Health Knowledge of child and family health and ability to do health promotion Injury knowledge of injury prevention and ability to promote	4-8 hours 4-8 hours 3-4 hours 4 hours 4 hours	Invest in Kids - core training Ounce Scale Videos Kid Safe Connection Alberta Injury Prevention Public Health Nurse, Dietician, Early Intervention Center for Family Literacy Specialists from hospital Shaken Baby Syndrome Training Parents as Teachers Hawaii Healthy Start Comfort, Play and Teach P.I.P.E. Early Literacy Training for home visitors- Books for Babies Community Literacy Development Programs
6	Help families access the network of formal and informal services and supports available in their own communities (GHVP p. 7)	knowledge of community resources, referral agencies, geographic area able to make appropriate referrals to community resources home visitors are knowledgeable about community resources and can refer families to the appropriate agencies (GHVP p. 12) home visitation programs are active in building and developing networks of service delivery partners (GVHP p. 13) staff of other agencies know about the home visitation program and can refer families who would benefit from home visiting services (GVHP p. 12) collaborative case management strategies are developed for families who move from one program to another within the community (GHVP p. 12) families get the services they need through a coordinated, integrated, community-based approach (GHVP p. 12)	4 hours	orientation of the community agencies and referral processes agency participation on interagency networks maintaining ongoing connections
7	Home visitation programs value diversity and promote inclusion (GHVP p. 9)	knowledge of impact of cultural beliefs and practices on parenting understanding of personal beliefs, values and practices that could impact working with the family of a different culture able to explore and respect the unique cultural practices of each individual family	4-8 hours dependent on population serving	community cultural awareness training (diverse cultural parenting) Native Counselling Aboriginal Friendship centers Métis Association Cultural Associations
8	Working with at risk and hard-to-reach families (GHVP p. 26)	knowledge of factors that may make families hard to reach identify strategies for making a successful first contact identify approaches to support the ongoing development of effective working relationships with hard to reach families (Invest in Kids chap 8 p.3- High Risk binder) able to develop a relationship with a family knowledge of elements in a helping relationship- communicate effectively boundaries, building trust, empathy, respect, non-judgmental, sincerity, positive communication strategies and behaviour knowledge of strategies and build family capacity by helping families develop skills in communication, conflict resolution and problem solving	16+ hours	Invest in Kids - core training Invest in Kids- High Risk Institute Teaching Family Model ( Guided Self Discovery EDUCATES) AADAC- Motivational Interviewing Great Kids Inc Solution Focussed Approach Community Experts
9	Family dynamics (GHVP p. 26)	understanding of family dynamics understanding of how problems with individual family members affect the entire family knowledge of how individuals develop strength/coping mechanisms to cope with difficult or painful family of origin issues (p. 8 GK Inc)	4 hours	Community Experts
10	Child abuse and neglect (GHVP p. 26)	to define the terms and types of child abuse and neglect to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and what to do about them To be aware of the characteristics and behaviours of individuals raised in abusive or neglectful environments. (p.9 GK Inc) knowledge of Child Protective Services awareness of legal obligation and responsibility for mandatory reporting	4-8 hours	Family Enhancement Child Welfare Child Abuse Teams Community Experts Invest in Kids - core training Making a Difference - A Child Care Community Response to Child Abuse Expert on Family Violence Women's Shelters Community Experts
11	Family violence and its impact on children (GHVP p. 26)	to understand the basic dynamic of domestic violence within the family structure including the roles that various family members play when violence is present to understand the cycle of violence identify strategies that can be used in discussing domestic violence and problem solving able to formulate a safety plan with family members (p. 18 GK Inc)	4-8 hours	Community Experts Women's Shelters
12	Using Screening and Assessment Tools (GVHP p. 26)	able to administer screening and assessment tools that are valid and reliable in the prescribed manner as required by the agency (GHVP p. 17 & 18)	Dependent on the tools used and their training requirements	Regional Health Authority Agency orientation
13	Service planning (GHVP p. 26)	work collaboratively with families in developing plans and goals to make their own choices and decisions (p. 71 Invest in Kids) identifies strategies that can help the family achieve its goals and sets appropriate timelines (GHVP p. 21) practice outlines the family's strengths, needs and resources and its goals with respect to home visiting and parenting (GHVP p. 21) practice will reflect strength based strategies and beliefs - practice with families incorporates family strengths, challenges to facilitate change and growth for healthy family functioning	4 hours	Invest in Kids - core training Great Kids Inc CFSA Teaching Family Model Resource Guide - Invest in Kids Healthy Families America
14	Case Monitoring	able to document work with a family accurately in a comprehensive manner that captures the family dynamics ability to write non-judgmental, objective case notes, assessment or reports able to maintain complete, accurate records for each client (hard copy or electronic) that include client progress and outcomes (GHVP p.30)	3-4 hours	Agency orientation Great Kids Inc Healthy Families America
	Other desirable training not mandated by guidelines	Other desirable training not mandated by guidelines include: FASD Suicide intervention First Aid Addictions, substance abuse Model of change Working with Fathers Mental health issues Postpartum Depression (PPD) Smoking cessation Financial literacy Isolation Poverty Family planning