A question often raised, “What

happens during a home visit,

and what is the role of a Home

Visitor?”

Home visiting has evolved over

the years with increased focus

on family support and getting

children off to a good and

healthy start. Research have

shown that family support pro-

grams such as this has signifi-

cant return on investment and

ultimately save money for tax-

payers. A number of studies also indicate that home

visiting is effective in the following areas:

Reduction in health care costs

Reduction in need for remedial education

Increased family self-sufficiency

During a home visit, which can occur weekly or twice a month, families receive support, educational infor-mation, child development screenings, and referrals. Families often build strong relationships with their Home Visitor and agency. In short, Home Visitors provide direct services to at-risk families and play an important role in the success of achieving their goals. This issue looks at evidence based home visiting models; impacts, outcomes, and ways in which home visitors assist families. Each of our collaborative agencies: Easter Seals, La Voz Latina, City of Rockford Head Start, and Rockford Public Schools #205 Early Childhood Program utilize different models to support their program and clients. The Impact of Home Visiting has positive and significant effects, not only on families, but in our community.

“This program has

helped us in many ways.

For example; education

and support, especially

when I was pregnant.

I had many questions and

concerns. I was scared during my preg-

nancy and even now.

I also learned many things I didn’t know

such as labor and delivery and how to

breastfeed to be able to bond with my

son. This experience has made our fam-

ily stronger and more knowledgeable.

We are now married and have recently

purchased our first home. We both have

full time jobs and are looking forward to

finishing our college”.

THE IMPACT of HOME VISITING

April 2014

iGROW Rockford

A local Home Visiting

Collaborative of the Maternal Infant Early

Childhood Home Visiting Program

(MIECHVP)

IMPACTING FAMILIES

Purpose of the iGrow

Newsletter:

To keep clients informed about our

community’s Home Visiting Program

To increase communication and

awareness with community agencies,

stakeholders, and the community-at-

large

To provide a venue for information-

sharing between home visitors, fami-

lies, clients, advocates, and friends of

iGrow.

Marissa, Julian, and baby

Julian Sammuel Perez

Home Visiting Clients of LaVoz Latina

Inside this issue:

Evidence base home

visiting models

2

Agency Profile

Rkfd Public Schools #205

Early Childhood Program

3

Meet a Home Visitor 3

Partner Agency

Contacts

4

Home Visiting Summary 4

tant, influential relationship 2)

high quality services 3) cultural

competence that acknowledges

the role culture plays in early

development 4) transition plan-

ning, and 5) collaboration with

partnerships.

Eligibility Criteria-City of

Rockford Early Head Start

-Pregnant

-Children ages 0-3

Early Head Start (EHS) is one of the

longest running home visiting models

aimed at enhancing development of

infants, toddlers, and families, while

promoting healthy prenatal outcomes

for low-income pregnant women.

A few program concepts Head start

was founded on are as follows: 1)

positive relationship and continuity

with emphasis on the role of the par-

ent as the child’s first and most impor-

-Meet income guidelines

-Reside in Winnebago County

Healthy Families America - La Voz Latina and Easter Seals

Early Head Start - City of Rockford Head Start

and in life. PAT uses four in-

depth components: 1) personal

visits 2) group connections 3)

screenings, and 4) resource net-

works to work with at-risk fami-

lies. The following values serve

to strengthen the program:

-Parents are the child’s first and

most influential teachers,

-All young children and families

deserve the same opportunities to

succeed regardless of any demo-

graphic, geographic, or economic

considerations.

-Appreciation of the history and

traditions of diverse cultures is

essential in serving families.

Eligibility Criteria-RPS #205

-Pregnant women

-Children 0-3

-Must reside in the Rockford

School District area

-Families with highest needs are

priority-served

Parents As Teachers - RPS #205 Early Childhood Program

Parents as Teachers (PAT) was devel-

oped in the 1970’s. This model’s phi-

losophy is that the early years of a

child’s life are critical for optimal

development and in providing the

foundation for success in school

Healthy Families America (HFA) was

created over 20 years ago and is a

nationally recognized model. This

model primarily works with families

who may have histories of trauma,

intimate partner violence, mental

health and /or substance abuse issues.

Preventing child abuse and neglect is

complex because of many different

risk factors that interact with family

and community strengths. HFA pre-

vents child abuse and neglect by help-

ing families build protective factors

that reduce risks by:

*Promoting healthy parent-child in-

teraction and attachment.

*Increasing knowledge of child

community health.

Eligibility Criteria-Easter

Seals:

-1st time teen parent

-19 years old or under

-Pregnant or

-Parenting a child under 3

months and resides in Winne-

bago County

Eligibility Criteria-La Voz

Latina

-1st time teen parent or preg-

nant, or

-baby up to 30 days old

-19 years old or under &

identify self /father as

Hispanic/Latina

A Home Visiting program uses trained home visitors to provide direct services in the home to pregnant women or children from birth to age five.

Services are free and voluntary.

Home visitors receive background checks as well as extensive training in child development.

Home Visitors share information about parent-child interactions, and they model activities to stimulate attachment and development.

There are more than 300 home visiting programs in Illinois.

Research shows that home visiting programs work and ultimately save money for taxpayers. Effectiveness includes reduced health care costs, reduced need for remedial education and increased family self-sufficiency.

IMPACTING THROUGH EVIDENCE BASED

HOME VISITING MODELS

Page 2

development and appropriate

expectations of children.

*Improving use of preventive

health care.

*Reducing social isolation;

*Providing access to commu-

nity resources for families.

HFA has the potential to

achieve community-wide bene-

fits, including intermediate sys-

tem change, cost savings, and

long-term impacts on

Rockford Public Schools’ Early Childhood Program has provided ser-

vices to children in our community for over 25 years. Through the vi-

sionary leadership of school district administration, the Rockford Pub-

lic School District has placed a stake in the ground, expanding early

childhood programming despite funding cuts at the state level and

working to further community partnerships to provide additional of-

ferings throughout the city. Currently serving over 2,800 children and families, the Early Childhood Depart-

ment provides a variety of programs to support the growth and development of your child and family. Con-

tinue reading to further explore the opportunities that await your family with the Rockford Public Schools

Early Childhood Program.

Our Birth to Three Home Visiting program, provides in-home services to at-risk children and families, includ-

ing expectant mothers. Services provided through this program include home visits, developmental, hearing,

and vision screenings, just to name a few. During a home visit, families participate in parent child interaction

activities, learn about their child’s development, and are connected to a variety of community resources. For

more information on these programs, please call (815) 967-8030.

Our Early Childhood Education Program offers preschool programming to children residing within District 205

boundaries who are between the ages of 3-5. To enroll, children must be 3-years-old on or before September

1. Our preschool program offers hands-on, child-centered learning experiences with a focus on social emo-

tional development. Preschool classes are held at a variety of convenient locations throughout the city of

Rockford. Classes run Monday through Friday for 2 hours 45 minutes. All students are provided with a free

developmental screening prior to placement, and additional classroom offerings are available, such as bilin-

gual and special education. For more information, please contact the Early Childhood Screening and Place-

ment Department at (815) 229-2103.

babies quite a lot. I feel happy

when I am able to identify a

family with needs, and I am able

to connect them with the re-

sources available in the commu-

nity. I love to see when a parent

becomes involved with their

child. For example if there is a

specific area of concern, like

speech. While I am visiting with

the parent and they become

aware of the delay and the differ-

ence they can make with daily

interaction with their child, I

get very excited. I can see that

Meet Carolina Rodri-

guez who has been with

the Rockford Public

Schools since August

14, 2013.

Carolina has had a busy year attending

trainings and working with families. She

has done a tremendous job in learning

about the requirements for the home visit-

ing program and has developed wonderful

relationships with each of her families.

When asked what she likes most about

home visiting, Carolina responds, “I enjoy

something clicks with the parent,

so they become more intentional

about their play. Many times, I’ve

watched the parent see that the

time spent with their child does

make a difference, and they con-

tinue on the path of positive

parent-child interaction. It feels

good when a parent sees that I

am there for them, that I am

reliable, and I am sometimes the

only positive thing in their life.

After they learn to trust me, they

will reach out more, and the

relationship gets stronger.”

Rockford Public Schools District #205 Early Childhood Education Program

Meet Home Visitor — Carolina Rodriquez

Partner Agency Profile Page 3

“I love to see when a

parent becomes

involved with their

child” - Carolina Rodriquez

IMPACTING LIVES

-Evidence based

Research

Evidence of effectiveness

-Over-arching purpose

Improve family functioning

Encourage healthy growth and

Development

-Common Characteristics

Voluntary

Relationship based

Weekly or bi-weekly visits

Child development curriculum

-Client-centered and strength-based

-Parent-child interaction (including

prenatal bonding)

-Parenting instruction

-Preventative screenings

Developmental delay

Hearing/Vision

Domestic Violence

Maternal depression

-Referrals to health care

-Healthy Families America (HFA)

Improve parent-child relationships

Reduce risk for child maltreatment

-Parents as Teachers (PAT)

Support parents as child’s first

teacher

Improve parent-child interaction

-Early Head Start (EHS)

Promote healthy prenatal outcomes

for pregnant women

Enhance the development of very

young children

This program was made possible by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 which authorizes

the creation of the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Education Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Winne-

bago County Health Department serves as the lead agency. The program is carried out in conjunction with

four Rockford home visiting partnering agencies (listed below), in addition to the Governor’s Office of

Early Childhood Development, IL Department of Human Services, and the State of Illinois.

Page 4

Winnebago County Health Department 555 North Court Street Rockford, IL 61103 Phone: 815-720-4000

If you would like more information

about iGROW, would like to be re-

ferred, or be placed on our newsletter

mailing list, please contact iGrow

Coordinated Intake at:

815-720-4000 or igrow@wchd.org

Newsletter Editors:

C.Boyd, WCHD –CSD

D.Richter, WCHD –CI

Contributors to this edition:

K. Rousch, La Voz Latina

K. Nelson, RPS District #205

J. Male, RPS District #205

Source: Pew Home Visiting Campaign Homvee.acf.hhs.gov Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development

Let us know if you have information you would like featured in iGrow. Send us your photos, stories, comments, or feedback.

The iGrow Newsletter is published quarterly.

Rockford Home Visiting - Partner Agency Contacts:

Easter Seals

Metropolitan Chicago– Rockford Region

815-965-5069 x 233

Early Head Start Program

815-987-5480

Early Childhood Program

815-967-8030

La Voz Latina

815-965-5784

Illinois MIECHV webpage:

www2.illinois.gov/oecd

Evidence based Home Visiting Home Visiting Activities Program Models– Specific Outcomes