Fostering Home Visitor Peer Relationships: Strategies to Support the Home Visiting Workforce

Authors: Fisk, E., Joraanstad, A., & Sparr, M.

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Fostering Home Visitor Peer Relationships Research to Practice Brief ↓

This research-to-practice brief is designed for local program leaders, supervisors, state and network leaders, and model developers looking to strengthen their workforce by investing in peer connection. Drawing on a scan of existing literature and voices from the home visiting field, this brief presents strategies across three areas — peer relationships in the workplace, peer support structures, and peer connections across the field — that programs can tailor to meet the needs of their staff.

Home visitors spend most of their workday traveling and conducting visits alone — which means opportunities to connect with colleagues do not happen naturally. Yet research consistently links strong peer relationships to higher job satisfaction, lower burnout, and greater likelihood of staying in the job.

When home visitors feel connected to their peers, they are better equipped to manage the emotional demands of their work, support the families they serve, and stay in their roles for the long term.