With a population of over 10 million, home visiting has emerged as an important service delivery strategy because it affords unique opportunities for engaging families, and under certain conditions, has been shown to produce positive effects for young children and their families. To help develop policy on how to utilize home visiting to strengthen the continuum of care for children, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) conducted a countywide survey of local home visiting programs to characterize the scope of these programs, outline key practices shown to be associated with positive outcomes, and identify measures that may help to integrate home visiting programs into the continuum of comprehensive services for young children and their families.
A cross-sectional survey, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, collected data from program directors on program administration, funding, services, staffing, capacity, barriers, and evaluation. The survey found that 90 organizations (69% of those contacted) administered over 130 programs in the county for pregnant women and new mothers with children under the age of five years. Program characteristics varied widely, but were largely comprehensive in nature. Ninety-seven percent of the programs offered case assessment and case management services, over 80% offered parenting support and education on child health/development, 65% conducted child abuse prevention activities, and 36% provided services for substance abuse and school readiness. Survey results have enabled policy makers to support, strengthen and expand home visiting programs, pilot new and innovative initiatives, and fill service delivery gaps.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to describe the five domains most frequently addressed by maternal and child health home visiting programs; three commom staffing models; and key factors that influence service intensity.
Keywords: Home Visiting, Service Delivery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.