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Home Visitor Training Kendra Vandertie & Bill Curtis. Appleton Area School District 2011/2012. Who are Home Visitors?. How many years have you been doing home visits? What is your role as a Home Visitor? Share some experiences How many have taken NVCI?
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Home Visitor TrainingKendra Vandertie & Bill Curtis Appleton Area School District 2011/2012
Who are Home Visitors? • How many years have you been doing home visits? • What is your role as a Home Visitor? • Share some experiences • How many have taken NVCI? • What do you hope to gain from this training? (index cards)
Various purposes for home visits (team vs. ind) • Parents as Teachers Program • Early Childhood Teachers and Providers (PT, OT, SP/L Pathologists, etc.) • ELL, Home/School Connection • New student visits – Kindergarten teachers • Title-I Preschool Teachers and Interpreters • Student Services intervention • Attendance concerns • Health needs • Others ?
Review of Home Visiting Guidelines • Three major components: • Preparation before the visit • Interaction during the visit • Follow up after the visit
Before the visit……… • Communication Needs • Cultural Norms • Data Collection • Scheduling Process • Items to Bring • Misc
Communication Needs • Need for an interpreter? • Check with family • Invite interpreter • Conversational English or specialized language
Working with an Interpreter • Greet parents directly. (Use parent’s native language in greeting.) • Be mindful of seating. • Always speak directly to parents and face them. • Speak slowly and clearly.
Working with Interpreter (cont.) • Use natural, but shorter chunks of language. • Allow for wait time. • Allow for questions and comments.
Interpreter’s focus • Interpret the thought, intent, and spirit in a neutral fashion. • Do not give opinions or judgments. • Ask for clarification. • Ask the home visitor to slow down.
Cultural Norms Mexican families • People are not accustomed to home visits. • Teachers went into people’s homes for social purposes. • In Mexico, people always go to school to discuss school business.
Cultural Norms Mexican families, cont • Critical to explain in Spanish ahead of time the purpose of the visit and identify the visitors. • People may be distrustful of authorities. • Concerns about immigration.
Cultural Norms Mexican families, cont • Many families are less invested in the local community because they plan to return to Mexico.
Cultural Norms Hmong families • Distinguish between traditional family and second generation. • Explain the purpose of the visit. • More integrated into the local community. Idea of returning to Laos is less prevalent.
Cultural Norms Hmong families-Traditional • Both parents may not stay for entire meeting. • Traditionally, the role of the parent was to nurture, not teach.
Cultural Norms Hmong families-Traditional • Parents as teachers is not a widely held cultural belief among the Hmong. • Most traditional Hmong would expect to meet in the school. • Concerns about privacy .
Cultural Norms Hmong families-Second generation • New cultural view-parents as teachers. • Get children ready for school. • Economic concerns predominate. • Children may be in care of grandparents with traditional views.
Cultural Norms Other groups-Native American and African-American people. • Difficult to generalize. Know the background of target family. • Build rapport and trust. • Socializing before business- considered good manners.
Data Collection • Review data in the following areas: • Chancery • BCT Notes • Home visit logs • 3 & 4 year old screening information • PSL Officer • Administrator • Student Service Staff • Student cumulative & behavioral file
If information in the data collection indicates a safety concern for home visit, then schedule in a public location. Public library School Park Mall Fast food restaurant with play area Others? Scheduling Process
Scheduling Process (cont) • If a visit to the home is required (i.e. truancy), but records indicate it is unsafe….. • Attend with two people • Request assistance of PSL Officer • Make sure to follow check in and check out procedures and carry a cell phone
Items To Bring • In addition to always bringing a cell phone……. • ID Badge • Wear comfortable shoes and clothing that are appropriate and not loose-fitting. • Keep jewelry to a minimum • Bring along all necessary materials for the visit • If cleanliness of the home is a concern, bring a blanket to sit on • Have an agenda or checklist for the visit
Miscellaneous • Be sure your car is well maintained and has a full tank of gas • Become familiar with stores, businesses, police and fire department locations and other “safe havens”. • Know where service stations and public phones are located.
During The Visit • When arriving at the home, be aware of your surroundings….. • Stop and listen at the doorway prior to alerting of your arrival. • Greet the family and find out who is all in the home. • Request that pets be confined and other distractions be minimized • Do not carry a purse. Keep keys in your pocket. • If at any time you feel unsafe, leave.
During the Visit (cont.) • Stay aware of your surroundings • Position yourself between the door and other non-school members of the visit • Keep alert to unusual sounds or movements • Seat yourself on a stable surface….ask for a kitchen chair if the couch or floor are unsuitable • Stick to your agenda – A written agenda provides a framework for the visit.
Sample Agendas Agenda A • Student progress report • Skills to be practiced at home • Model and practice • Parent Questions/Concerns • Set up next meeting date Agenda B • Share staff concerns about attendance • Parent concerns about attendance • Brainstorm solutions • Outline a plan • Review plan and set up next meeting
When De-escalation is needed Non -Threatening Posture and Gestures – CPI* Supportive Stance *CPI – Crisis Prevention Institute Communication – Non-Verbals and Para Verbals Take the HEAT – Hear –Empathize-Apologize-Take Action
Remain Calm Listen Be aware of nonverbals and paraverbals Plan your exit, if needed. Overreact Make false promises Give fake attention Be threatening Use jargon (can be confusing and frustrating) Do’s Don’ts
Concluding the Visit • Schedule future meeting dates • Determine whether the meeting place next time will be in the home or a public place • Determine future agendas • Skills to ending a visit…role play?
After The Visit • Check in at school • Report any concerns to your Administrator • Fill out all necessary paperwork documenting the visit • Fill out time sheet, if applicable • Report significant concerns to authorities, as necessary (give examples)
References • AASD Home Visitation Guidelines • Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc., 1999 Parent educator resource • Nora Lazcano, AASD ELL Interpreter • Ger Vang, AASD ELL Interpreter • Cynthia Cruz, AASD Native American Cultural Support Specialist • CPI - Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc.
Questions? (refer to index cards) • Evaluation
Thank You for coming! Kendra & Bill