Evidence-based Home Visiting in the Era of COVID-19

For families of young children ages birth through five, evidence shows that interventions such as home visiting can provide families needed support and lead to gains in parent-child relationships and child development. Consistent, correct use of evidence-based practices by home visitors can help improve children’s outcomes even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect nearly all aspects of everyday family life.

AIR hosted a webinar on Thursday, March 24 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, for practitioners and researchers from the home visiting field. The webinar shared findings from a pilot study testing a new approach to implementing an evidence-based language practice in Part C Early Intervention, Early Head Start, and Parents As Teachers home visiting. Presenters also discussed implications for practice during COVID-19, given that home visitors have had to turn to telehealth or video-based visits to deliver services.

The webinar provided a forum for discussion about key questions:

• Evidence-based home visiting models: What supports are needed to best implement them with families?
• Home visiting during COVID-19: How have practices in the field changed in response to the coronavirus pandemic?
• Bringing it all together: How can we continue to support and learn from evidence-based practices in home visiting during and after COVID-19?

Moderator

Eboni Howard, Ph.D., Managing Researcher, AIR

Panelists

Brenda Jones Harden, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Maryland School of Social Work

Donna Hunt-O’Brien
Vice President of Professional and Program Development, Parents as Teachers

Maureen Greer
Executive Director, IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association

Aleksandra Holod, Ph.D.
Senior Researcher, AIR