- | Brief
This research-to-practice brief is designed for local program leaders, supervisors, state and network leaders, and model developers who want to take meaningful action to protect and retain their staff. Drawing on a scan of existing literature and resources, as well as voices from the home visiting field, this brief presents concrete, actionable strategies across four domains — policies, practices, resources, and supports — that programs can implement to build a culture of safety.
- | Brief
Home visitors do essential work — but too often, that work goes unrecognized. Our latest research-to-practice brief makes the case for meaningful staff recognition and offers practical, low-cost strategies program leaders can use to help home visitors feel valued and supported. It highlights how small, intentional efforts can improve morale, retention, and overall program impact.
- | 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.
- | Report
The MIECHV and IDHS State Home Visiting Program Staff Survey is conducted each year by the Center for Prevention Research and Development (CPRD) at the University of Illinois in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood (IDHS-DEC). The goals of the survey are to obtain feedback and better understand the needs of the Illinois MIECHV and IDHS State Home Visiting funded workforce. (author summary)
- | Report
The National Resource Center for Family Based Services (NRC) created this profile of Iowa’s family support workforce under sponsorship of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). The purpose was to gain a greater understanding of the family support workforce and its organizational contexts with the goal of strengthening the workforce and improving the quality of family support services. (author summary)
- | Article
The early childhood workforce encompasses a range of professionals across health care, early childhood education, mental health, child welfare, and early intervention. Despite the differences in daily responsibilities, these professionals experience similar systems-level challenges which impede their ability to professionally flourish and risk undermining the needs of families. In this article, we highlight four key challenges—compensation, burnout, safety, and retention—which have long impacted their sectors and have been further exacerbated by the pandemic. Opportunities for policymakers and program administrators to discuss these challenges are discussed. (author abstract)
- | Article
Early care and education workers are increasingly recognizing their role in helping children who have experienced trauma, including extended parental separations due to incarceration. These children may have emotional reactions and behaviors that are particularly challenging in group settings. Moreover, early care and education professionals themselves have often had challenging experiences in their own lives. As a result, there is a need for training and support to help the workforce recognize the secondary trauma and stress associated with caring for these young children. This article will explore howto establish systems and policies that support the early care and education workforce who are on the frontlines of helping children cope with trauma. (author abstract)
- | Blog
This blog describes strategies that Florida has utilized to support local implementing agencies (LIAs) to improve their staff recruitment and retention in recognition that home visitors play an enormous role in family engagement with the program. (author summary)
- | Fact/Tip Sheet
This fact sheet describes the Staff Recruitment & Retention (SRR) CoIIN was a collaborative learning effort that consists of three MIECHV awardees (Ohio, Alabama, Wisconsin) and 10 LIAs who worked to achieve the following the following SMART aim by the end of their collaborative: 85% of home visiting professionals, including home visitors and home visiting supervisors, will improve or maintain high staff well-being, creating a healthier, supported, and more resilient home visiting workforce. (author summary)
- | Report
The Supporting and Strengthening the Home Visiting Workforce (SAS-HV) project focuses on “professional well-being,” specifically the (1) workplace experiences unique to home visiting and (2) how they influence dimensions of well-being that affect home visitors’ practice with families. (author summary)