Abstract
Normalization of virtual home visiting in Idaho
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Introduction: Home visiting pairs parents (expectant or with young children) with an early childhood professional to support family health and well-being. COVID-19 forced home visitors to transition from in-person to virtual services. Using Normalization Process Theory with home visitors in Idaho, we explored (1) the degree to which virtual home visiting practice has been normalized, (2) how virtual home visiting will be used in the future, and (3) perceptions of how virtual practice impacts health outcomes.
Methods: Data were collected from home visitors via an online survey and individual interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically to place findings within the context of participants’ experiences.
Results: Of 22 possible participants, 21 completed the survey and 8 were interviewed, revealing high degrees of normalization. Participants indicated virtual home visiting feels familiar and should be utilized in the future as a tool that improves communication with families and allows more flexibility and autonomy. By providing virtual services, participants were able to continue supporting families’ emotional and physical health. Participants highlighted a need for technical orientation and support from senior leadership to continue virtual home visiting.
Conclusion: High normalization indicates virtual home visiting will likely be sustained; however, barriers related to organizational support may negatively impact its implementation. To build a supportive culture, home visiting organizations and stakeholders should build support throughout home visiting systems for virtual practice, including incentivizing research that establishes evidence of effectiveness of virtual practice leading to improved health outcomes and best practices.