Implementing Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)^®

All HIPPY sites in the United States are affiliated with HIPPY USA. Sites interested in implementing HIPPY (1) review the model requirements and assess their feasibility to implement the HIPPY core elements; (2) convene a preliminary planning meeting with community representatives to orient and inform members of the community about HIPPY, discuss the need for and feasibility of implementing HIPPY, strategize funding possibilities, and consider potential implementing agencies and possible collaborations; (3) conduct a community needs assessment to determine whether there is a need, support, and demand for a HIPPY program; and (4) secure funding for the first year of implementation and develop a realistic plan for securing second-year funding (HIPPY USA requires all sites to secure funding before implementation begins). After these steps are completed, sites may submit an application to HIPPY USA.

If all requirements are met, sites are granted the right to implement HIPPY according to a formal operating agreement (contract) with the HIPPY USA national office. This agreement spells out the conditions under which the HIPPY name and HIPPY materials can be used, and provides the local site with the exclusive right to implement HIPPY in the “program community” as defined in the contract.

Home visitors are required to participate in three days of on-site training. For new programs, the training is conducted by a national trainer; in subsequent years, the coordinator provides the training utilizing the same training modules and concepts.

HIPPY USA requires coordinators to complete HIPPY pre-service training successfully before starting a new program or taking on the coordination of an existing program. HIPPY coordinator training is a multiday training that covers the core principles of the HIPPY model and how to apply these principles to daily practice, outlines pedagogical concepts that are critical to understanding the structured delivery of the HIPPY curricula, and includes interactive sessions to demonstrate adult learning principles that home visitors can apply when working with parents and that coordinators can use to train home visitors.

HIPPY USA requires supervisors to complete supervisor training within one year of joining an affiliate site.

No information is available about whether staff certification is required.

Coordinators are required to hold weekly in-service staff meetings for home visitors during which they model and discuss the educational concepts and activities in the upcoming week’s lesson and challenges that home visitors might experience when serving families. The home visitors role-play the week’s lesson under the direction of the coordinator.

HIPPY USA requires that coordinators and home visitors receive at least 15 hours of comprehensive job-related training annually. Affiliate sites must ensure staff have access to trainings and professional development, including those offered internally, statewide, or through HIPPY USA. At the affiliate’s discretion, the 15-hour minimum requirement can include professional development offered at the HIPPY USA national conference, which provides attendees with a minimum of 12 to 15 hours of professional development and educational workshops.

For new programs, national trainers visit the site twice during the first year. The purpose is to identify additional training needs, share best practices, and provide implementation guidance. National trainers perform regular site visits for existing programs, during which training may be provided based on staff needs.

HIPPY USA Training for Excellence modules allow coordinators to train and orient new home visitors using the same materials and techniques as HIPPY USA national trainers. The Home Visitor Guide was created for coordinators and home visitors to use during home visitor training. It is designed to increase the home visitor’s knowledge base in early childhood growth and development. Coordinators also use the Keys to Successful Role Play guidelines to train home visitors in how to present each week’s activity to parents.

HIPPY USA national trainers conduct initial training of home visitors, provide technical assistance and ongoing technical support, assess programs, and recommend steps for improvement. HIPPY trainers must complete the requirements to become certified trainers and participate in continuous education and professional development from the national office.

HIPPY USA national trainers contact their assigned affiliate sites monthly to discuss progress and provide assistance in solving implementation issues. Five states (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, and Texas) have official, designated HIPPY state offices, which provide affiliate sites in their state with training and technical assistance, fidelity monitoring, evaluation and research, resource development, strategic alliances, and advocacy efforts. The national office provides these services for affiliate sites in states without HIPPY state offices.

New programs receive two site visits from a HIPPY USA national trainer. The initial site visit occurs before the program starts; a follow-up visit is conducted approximately mid-year. These visits include home visitor training, orientation with agency administrators and collaborators, assistance with public relations events, and on-site coordinator training.

Existing programs receive regular site visits that are designed to troubleshoot programmatic issues, offer training to coordinators and home visitors, and provide an overall assessment of the program (ensuring that the program is being implemented with fidelity to the HIPPY model). Trainers provide ongoing communication to the sites leading up to the visit and prepare a report that includes recommendations and action plans for quality improvement.

The information contained on this page was last updated in July 2020. Recommended further reading lists the sources for this information. In addition, the information contained in this profile was reviewed for accuracy by the HIPPY USA national office on April 10, 2020. HomVEE reserves the right to edit the profile for clarity and consistency.