Home Visitation Practice

Elements of Home Visitation Practice

• Personalized and flexible, relevant to families' circumstances and culturally sensitive
• Built around long-term, ongoing relationships based on genuine concern and honesty
• Holistic in responding to the diverse aspects of people's lives: their healthy, relationships, sense of belonging, economic factors, healthy child development, cultural aspects and legal considerations
• Reflective in nature
• Complementary to the work of other professionals and agencies.

Beliefs that Guide Home Visitation Practice

• Belief in the importance and value of families
• Belief that everybody has within them the ability to change and grow
• Belief that people know what they need and that, given the opportunity and information, they have the ability to make good choices for themselves and their families
• Belief that information and education are important aspects of decision making
• Belief that a supportive practice is based on relationships of mutual respect, trust, confidentiality and non-judgmental interaction

Principles of Home Visitation Practice

• Involves working with families in the natural environment of their homes and family lives, in real situations as they happen
• Work is holistic, encompassing the whole family and diverse aspects of its members' lives
• Recognizes and builds on the power of relationships
• Focuses on peoples' strengths and their abilities to make good decisions that enhance their lives and their lives of family members
• Includes connecting families in supportive and meaningful ways with other resources in the community, including supportive groups

Resource: Exploring Best Practice in Home Visitation, A Project of Partners for Best Practice in Home Visitation, Edmonton, AB, Canada