The ParentChild+ Core Model requires two types of staff positions: (1) home visitors, called Early Learning Specialists, who deliver the model to families; and (2) site coordinators who run the local program sites and train, support, and supervise the home visitors.
The ParentChild+ Core Model utilizes paraprofessionals as home visitors. The National Center does not have specific educational requirements for home visitors; however, home visitors must be able to prepare a written report on each home visit that conveys to the site coordinator what happened during the visit and their observations of the parents and the child. The home visitor must also be able to administer certain assessment measures. The National Center supports program sites to hire former program parent-participants and/or community residents as home visitors. Home visitors may also be volunteers from AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), or social work or early childhood students. Experience working with young children or families, paid or volunteer, is desirable, but not mandatory. The National Center recommends seeking home visitors who demonstrate: a desire to work with both adults and young children, a desire to contribute to the community, a willingness to learn on an ongoing basis, the ability to work independently, and excellent judgment. The National Center requires that site coordinators have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education, social work, or a related field.
The National Center requires that site coordinators have a weekly minimum two-hour staff meeting during which they provide group supervision and training for the home visitors they supervise. During the meetings, the site coordinators review the curricular materials for the week’s home visits, using techniques such as role playing, and they review what happened in the previous week’s home visits, highlighting successes and brainstorming solutions to challenges. These meetings use reflective supervision and relationship-based practice. The National Center also requires that the site coordinator observe each home visitor conducting home visits, either in person or on video, twice a year and that individual supervision occur at least after each of these observations, and more frequently as needed. In addition, site coordinators meet with or talk to participating families several times a year, separately from the home visitors, to obtain families’ assessments of the home visits.
Home visitors must participate in a minimum of 16 hours of training provided by the site coordinator before beginning home visits. The National Center requires that ParentChild+ Core Model site coordinators participate in an initial three-day training institute provided by the National Center, and a one-day follow-up training within the first year of implementation that emphasizes reflective supervision and cultural competence. Please contact the model developer for additional information about the pre-service training requirement.
Home visitors must receive a minimum of 46 hours annually of supervision and in-service training provided by site coordinators during weekly group staff meetings. During the meetings, site coordinators provide professional development for home visitors through trainings on a wide variety of topics. The ParentChild+ Annual Conference is an additional opportunity for site coordinators and home visitors to attend sessions specially designed for them, network with others implementing the ParentChild+ Core Model in communities across the country, and further their professional development. Please contact the model developer for additional information about the ongoing professional development requirement.