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This resource provides the essential components of the Early Head Start Home-Based Model for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program grantees. |
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The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) regional offices oversee the administration of ACF programs, including Early Head Start (EHS). The regional offices guide the programmatic and financial management of EHS in their jurisdictions and provide assistance, resources, and information to the various entities responsible for administrating these programs. The EHS Home-Based Model began in 1995, providing high-quality, culturally competent child development and parent support services with an emphasis on the role of the parent as the child's first and most important relationship. The home-based option is designed for families in which the home is the child's primary learning environment. Participants in the EHS home-based model receive a combination of weekly home visits and regularly scheduled group socializations. ELIGIBILITY FOR EHS HOME VISITING PARTICIPANTS
The EHS Home-Based Model targets low-income pregnant women and families with children birth to three. To be eligible, most families must be at or below the federal poverty level (Head Start Program Performance Standards 45 CFR 1305.4). However, EHS Home-Based Models must make at least 10 percent of their enrollment opportunities available to children with disabilities who are eligible for Part C services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in their state [Head Start Program Performance Standards 45 CFR 1305.6(c)]. Each individual EHS Home-Based Model is allowed to create specific program eligibility criteria (Head Start Program Performance Standards 45 CFR 1305.5 and 1305.6). EHS HOME BASED MODEL The scope of services in the home-based program option is comprehensive and includes the following: - Developmental screening, ongoing observation and assessment, and curriculum planning
- Medical, dental, and mental health
- Child development and education
- Family partnerships and goal setting
- Community collaborations to meet additional family needs
HOME VISITS
Home visits are conducted with the child's parent(s) or the primary caregiver for 90 minutes, generally on a year-round basis. The purpose of the home visit is to support parents in their roles as primary caregivers and to facilitate the child’s optimal development within their home environments. GROUP SOCIALIZATIONS
Group socializations are offered twice a month and are designed to support child development by strengthening the parent-child relationship. In the context of a group of families, socialization experiences address child growth and development, parenting, and the parent-child relationship. SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN
For EHS programs enrolling pregnant women, home visits are conducted to ensure pregnant women have access to comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care. A home visit is also used to provide prenatal education on topics such as fetal development, labor and delivery, postpartum recovery (including maternal depression), and the benefits of breastfeeding. FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
In order to meet the needs of children and families, a Family Partnership Agreement is created that defines the individualized focus for each enrolled child and family. Through this process, parents are integrally involved in determining the goals and experiences that comprise their child’s curriculum, and in identifying goals for themselves that best support their healthy development and self-sufficiency. HOME VISITING STAFF
In the EHS Home-Based Model, the relationship of the home visitor with parents and expectant parents is central to effective service delivery. Through ongoing interactions in home visits and socializations, this continuity of the relationship becomes the vehicle through which home visitors support and strengthen parents' or expectant parents’ abilities to nurture the healthy development of their children. |
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CURRICULUM
Early Head Start-Home Visiting programs are not required to follow a specific curriculum. Rather, the performance standards stipulate that programs select an in-home and group-based curriculum that encourages the development of secure relationships, trust and emotional security, and opportunities for each child to explore a variety of sensory and motor experiences, and that supports other aspects of social, emotional, and physical development. The curriculum must be based on sound child development principles about how children grow and learn.
STAFF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
According to the performance standards, home visitors working with infants and toddlers are required to have knowledge and experience in (1) child development and early childhood education; (2) principles of child health, safety, and nutrition; (3) adult learning principles; and (4) family dynamics. In addition, Early Head Start-Home Visiting staff must be able to effectively communicate, to the best extent possible, with children and families with no or limited English proficiency. Home visitors must be able to communicate with the families they serve either directly or through an interpreter. They should also be familiar with the ethnic background of these families. The Early Head Start-Home Visiting director must have demonstrated skills and abilities in a management capacity relevant to human services program management. Home visitors are required to participate in pre-service training.
STAFF RATIO REQUIREMENTS
The performance standards require that home visitors maintain an average caseload of 10 to 12 families, with a maximum of 12 families for any individual home visitor.
For More Information Contact:
LaShonda Y. Brown, Director – Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office
