Early Head Start Home Visits

Early Head Start (EHS) home visits provide comprehensive services to support and strengthen the relationships between infants, toddlers and their parents. The child development and education approach to infants and toddlers is based on the development of secure relationships; an understanding of the child’s family and culture; the development of trust and security; and the opportunity to explore sensory and motor experiences with support for EHS staff and family members. Home visits allow EHS staff to do the following:

1. Use the home environment to help parents create learning opportunities that build on everyday routines and support their children’s development.
2. Provide support to families whose life circumstances might prevent them from participating in more structured settings. Working in the environment where families are most comfortable lets EHS staff get to know families in a much more intimate way, which sets the stage for close, trusting relationships.
3. EHS staff work closely with parents to ensure that goals and experiences are congruent with the family’s culture, build on children’s interests and abilities, promote curiosity and a positive view about themselves and about learning, and use responsive interactions as the primary vehicle for learning.

1. In the Home Based option, home visits will be scheduled with the family once per week.  In the locally designed Combo option, home visits will be scheduled with the family twice a month.
   1. Staff will schedule make up visits for home visits cancelled by the program.
   2. Staff will attempt to make up visits to the extent possible for home visits cancelled by the family.
2. Home visits are documented on the At Home Learning tab for the current program year in the Family Services domain of Child Plus.
3. Home visit should be planned to last 90 minutes.
4. Home visits must occur in the enrolled child’s home unless the parents expressly request that the visit take place at the site or another safe location or if the visit to the home presents significant safety hazards for staff.
5. EHS staff and parents jointly plan the content of each home visit.
6. Visits should include education services including child-focused learning opportunities, health program services, family engagement services, disability services (as appropriate), and transition services (as appropriate).
7. Home Visits will be documented in Child Plus within 3 business days of the visit. The following will be included in the documentation:
   1. The Visit number, date of visit, format (in person, virtual, etc), and location of the contact (e.g., family’s home, EHS classroom, community location).
   2. Family and Staff present at the visit.
   3. Documentation of discussion/activities related to child development, family services, disabilities and mental health. Include specific details regarding topics discussed.
      1. 1. The details of topics related to Family Services and Health will be documented in the appropriate domains of Child Plus as needed.
   4. Documentation will include the Partners for A Healthy Baby topic that was discussed at the visit along with handout number.
   5. Plans for the next visit including any follow-up if needed and who will do the follow-up.

This policy complies with Head Start Performance Standards Sect.1302.22

Policy Council approved: 08/2023

REVIEWED: July 2023

UPDATED: July 2023