Understanding Family Engagement in Home Visiting: Literature Synthesis
OPRE Report #2023-004
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Associated Project
Understanding and Expanding the Reach of Home Visiting (HV-REACH)
Prepared for:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
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Key Findings
- Several key facilitators influence family engagement at each stage in which programs and families interact (outreach, recruitment, retention, and active participation)—and the absence of those factors can be a barrier to engagement.
- Key factors that can facilitate family engagement in home visiting include relevant program content and support; a positive dynamic between home visitors and families; and flexible scheduling.
- Home visiting programs and home visitors can develop and implement strategies to promote family engagement, including strategies that (1) strengthen outreach and recruitment, (2) support a favorable match and a positive dynamic between home visitors and families, and (3) offer flexible scheduling, content, and activities to prioritize families’ needs and goals.
This literature synthesis seeks to inform program practitioners and policymakers about factors and strategies that facilitate family engagement in home visiting and about the barriers to engagement. The synthesis informs other components of the Understanding and Expanding the Reach of Home Visiting (HV-REACH) project, including a conceptual framework of family engagement in home visiting, a toolkit of resources to promote engagement, and research topics for further study.
The HV-REACH project is studying, developing, and disseminating evidence-informed resources and strategies that home visiting programs can use to increase access to and participation in home visiting services among eligible families. Mathematica is conducting this project in partnership with the Brazelton Touchpoints Center and Social Grove on behalf of the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families, in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration.
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