Events, Trainings, and Announcements - Page 2 of 4

Initial Assessment

During the first home visit, an assessment/screening of the health and well-being of the prenatal or postpartum woman should be completed. The need for a return visit and the frequency of future visits (as needed) should be based on the assessment/risk and local procedure.

Selecting Screening Options

There are a number of maternal health/risk screening forms in use by local, state, and national home visiting programs. It is important to determine what tool(s) will be most appropriate for use by your program depending on the scope of visits, credentials of home visitors, and data that needs to be collected and tracked.

Screening tools are available for both women and infants. Some are based on timing or situation of the mother (e.g., preconception, prenatal, parenting, interconception). No matter what screening tools are used to assess for risk and next steps, a decision tree or service algorithm should guide the frequency of administration.

Initiation of Visit

It is important to determine the most preferred form of contact for the mother/family (phone call, text, email) as soon as possible. Make clear what form of contact will be used to schedule visits and to reach out with reminders and follow up. If someone other than the home visitor might be making the contact, inform the family.

Warm Handoffs

When accepting a referral for a prenatal or postpartum mother, best practice is for the home visitor to initiate an in-person meeting with the mother and referring partner to increase the opportunity for engagement.

Prenatal Visits

Prenatal visits should be initiated whenever possible.

When home visits are initiated prenatally, at least one prenatal and one postpartum visit should be conducted
Enhanced outreach practices improve chances of prenatal visits
Early access reduces risk and increases supports for mothers and family
It can be difficult to reach women during pregnancy. Partner with community organizations, clinics (e.g., WIC, health center, prenatal education providers) to promote home visiting and to increase access and referrals.

Postpartum Visits

Postpartum visits should be initiated within 2 weeks of the infant’s birth (or as soon as possible after notification of the infant’s birth)

When home visits are initiated postpartum, at least one postpartum visit should be conducted.

Steps for Conducting a Home Visit

An important aspect of promoting population health has been the tradition of providing services to individual families in their homes. Home visits give a more accurate assessment of the family structure and behavior in the natural environment, while helping to identify barriers and supports for reaching family health goals. Participation of other family members in the household is supported, and observations in the home can also highlight potential need to address other issues such as developmental screening, immunizations, special health care needs.

Establishing Trust and Connection

Meeting the family on its home ground may contribute to their sense of control and active participation in planning and achieving health goals.

Phases/Activities of a Home Visit

Initiation Phase

Identify source of referral for visit
Clarify purpose for home visit
Share information on reason and purpose of visit with family

Pre-Visit Phase

Initiate contact with mother/family
Establish shared perception of purpose with mother/family
Determine mother/family’s willingness for home visit
Schedule home visit
Review referral and/or family record

In-Home Phase

Introduction of self and identity
Social interaction to establish rapport
Establish relationship
Implement educational materials and/or make referrals

Exit Phase

Review visit with family
Plan for future visits as needed

Post-Visit Phase

Record visit and plan for next visit
Follow-up with educational materials and/or referrals

Supervisor Training and Professional Development

An Individual Professional Development Plan or other system of documenting training requirements and continuing education must be maintained, available for review, and updated annually. The plan is a valuable record that documents educational objectives met by staff and can assist in determining other learning needs. Costs associated with training (travel, fees) should be reflected in the MCH grant budget at the time of application.

Initial Training

All program staff must complete the Kansas Basic Home Visitation Training, developed in partnership between KDHE and the Kansas Head Start Association. The training includes two parts – online and face to face – but Supervisors are ONLY required to complete the online portion.

Basic Online Training, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1043474

Must be completed within 30 days of hire and prior to providing services
Required for all regardless of profession/credential because content is specific to home visiting services

Also required:

Abuse and Neglect, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1043466

HIPAA Awareness Module 1, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1047429

Healthcare or Public Health Workforce should complete:

HIPAA: Allowable Disclosures and Safeguards Module 2, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1072478
HIPAA: Right to Access and Documentation Module 3, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1072486

Fall Regional Home Visiting Training

Supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend this annual training administered by KDHE in order to provide adequate support and supervision to their Home Visitors and local agency program.

Other Continuing Education Options

Consider attending quality conferences and events such as the Governor’s Public Health Conference, Governor’s Conference for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Kansas Public Health Association Conference.
KS-TRAIN. KS-TRAIN maintains records of all trainings completed through that site.
Public Health Connections
Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals
The MCH Navigator is an online learning portal for MCH professionals funded by the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, which provides free foundational and essential training/education for those working to improve the health of women, infants, and families. NOTE: The MCH Navigator does not provide certificates or records of completion, so it is important to document the course and date completed OR capture a screen shot of the completion page for each course.

Supervisor Qualifications

Home Visiting Supervisors must be professional staff such as a licensed nurse, social worker, or other professional-level position and have at least one year of experience in public health, providing services to the target population of pregnant and post-partum women and infants.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Home Visiting Supervisors will be responsible for face to face staff training and supervision, while also maintaining administrative tasks, community outreach, and appropriate documentation for the MCH grant.

Supervising and Coaching

Supervisors will:

Know and understand the role of the Home Visitor
Screen, interview, hire, orient, and supervise the Home Visitor
Assist the Home Visitor with completing training requirements, ongoing professional development learning plans, and additional training needs
Oversee adherence to policies, procedures, and program requirements including screening and customer satisfaction
Conduct face to face coaching sessions at least monthly to review:
1. Clients currently receiving services
2. Families in need of RN or Social Worker contact
3. Professional development needs and progress with training/learning plan
4. Local coordination/partnerships: opportunities, challenges, solutions
5. Outreach and recruitment/enrollment: opportunities, challenges, solutions
Shadow the Home Visitor during at least two visits (one new and one existing client) annually to evaluate content of visits and effectiveness of the home visitor
Ensure that the home visitor has appropriate supervisor access and support in the event of client crises or emergencies
Document coaching/supervision and shadowing notes and feedback
Complete an annual written performance review/evaluation

Documentation and Collaboration

Supervisors will:

Promote effective interagency cooperation with community resources/ and assure coordination including cross-referral with MCH, Family Planning, WIC, and other public health programs, if available
Determine which families require a nurse or social worker visit when the Home Visitor observes a current or potential problem, and ensure that the nurse/social worker follows through.
Consult with other professionals who have provided referrals to home visiting
Assure outreach activities in the local community to promote home visiting
Periodically review documentation completed, data requirements, and reports with the home visitor
Ensure that all reports are completed and submitted timely and accurately
Participate in required training provided by KDHE

What Does a Supervisor Do?

A Home Visiting Supervisor must have a thorough understanding of the role of the Home Visitor and the requirements to be met for the MCH program/grant. They should not only be skilled at mentoring staff, but also at effective collaboration with other service providers, local programs, and both MCH and KDHE administrators. Supervisors should be a source of knowledge, support, guidance, and connection within the program staff and community.

Training and Professional Development

Home Visitor Orientation and Training

Home Visitors must complete orientation within 3 months (90 days) of hire/grant award, depending on previous experience. A checklist should record progress toward completion and be maintained as a part of the local personnel file. Documentation of all orientation steps should be provided upon request of the KDHE MCH Program Consultant during monitoring visits.

Requirements Before Service

Prior to conducting visits with families, a home visitor will:

Review the local agency MCH aid to local application to better understand the services, partnerships, and home visiting plan submitted to KDHE
Review local policies and procedures regarding home visiting
Review MCH Manual
Complete Basic Home Visitor Online Training *See Details Below in Initial Training
Understand education, information, and resources/materials shared during visits
Receive orientation to community partners, services, and resources
Shadow 3 visits conducted by an experienced home visitor (to be determined by supervisor and KDHE MCH program consultant)
Conduct at least 1 visit accompanied by the Home Visiting Program Supervisor

Initial Training

Online Training (Part 1), KS-TRAIN course ID# 1043474

Must be completed within 30 days of hire AND prior to providing services
Required for all regardless of profession/credential because content is specific to home visiting services

Also required before moving on to Part 2:

Abuse and Neglect, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1043466
HIPAA Awareness Module 1, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1047429

Healthcare or Public Health Workforce should complete:

HIPAA: Allowable Disclosures and Safeguards Module 2, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1072478
HIPAA: Right to Access and Documentation Module 3, KS-TRAIN course ID# 1072486

Face to Face Training (Part 2)

Must be completed (Level 1, 1 ½ days) within nine (9) months of hire
Does not need to be completed prior to conducting home visits
Only offered once every 6 to 9 months depending on need/potential attendance. If the training is not offered within the first 9 months of hire, the home visitor must notify the KDHE MCH Program Contact and plan to attend a future scheduled training.
Topics covered include: Home visiting models, best practices and beliefs, confidentiality, taking care of yourself, dealing with stress, role of the home visitor, trust and respect, tools, listening skills, power of words, negative consequence of rescuer, boundaries, home visitor safety, understanding cultures, poverty, family in community and community resources, documentation.

Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professional, Three Modules

Must be completed within six (6) months of hire
Home Visiting 101: This module is an introduction into home visiting and its importance for children, parents and families.
Home Visiting 102: In this module the Home Visitor will explore the daily activities of a family support professional and describe skills that can improve a family support professional’s effectiveness.
Home Visiting 103: This module describes qualities and behaviors that are essential to family support professionals.

Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA)

Every home visitor is required to keep updated on their certification on MHFA.
The certification is valid for three years.
Local agencies may build training fees associated with MHFA in the MCH grant budget.

Fall Regional Home Visiting Training

All Home Visitors are required to attend this annual training administered by KDHE.

Other Continuing Education Options

A half day Level 2 of the Face to Face Training above is available if MCH Home Visitors would like to attend. It is designed for more intensive home visiting programs, such as Parents as Teachers or Early Head Start, but has valuable topics including: Ethical principles of home visitation, family systems, building a healthy self-reliance and interdependence, empowerment model, six principles of empowerment assessment, home visitor professional development
Consider attending quality conferences and events such as the Governor’s Public Health Conference, Governor’s Conference for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Kansas Public Health Association Conference.
KS-TRAIN. KS-TRAIN maintains records of all trainings completed through that site.
Public Health Connections
Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals
The MCH Navigator is an online learning portal for MCH professionals funded by the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, which provides free foundational and essential training/education for those working to improve the health of women, infants, and families. NOTE: The MCH Navigator does not provide certificates or records of completion, so it is important to document the course and date completed OR capture a screen shot of the completion page for each course.

Home Visitor Qualifications

The relationship between the home visitor and family is one of support and trust, so ideal candidates must be skilled at building connections, listening to concerns, and providing knowledge in a helpful manner.

Home Visitors must:

Have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED
Be able to differentiate between home visitor and nursing responsibilities
Demonstrate the ability to respect the confidentiality of a client relationship
Demonstrate effective communication skills
Present a warm, concerned, culturally sensitive attitude toward families
Be knowledgeable of available community resources and how to utilize them
Take direction and carry out decisions made by supervisor
Complete reports in a timely and accurate manner
Work independently in a dependable manner
Model a healthy lifestyle while interacting with clients
Preferably have demonstrated, successful experience delivering support and education services

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