Using Relationship-Based Approach to Foster Parental Confidence and Improve Outcomes for Families with Young Children

The efficiency of evidence-based early intervention programs is amply demonstrated in research literature. One such program is the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program that provides evidence-based services to at-risk families with children. The effectiveness of this program is regularly assessed by measuring program outcomes; however, little attention is given to the perspective of the program participants. The aim of the present study was to examine, both immediate and potentially lasting positive effects home visiting can have on families, from the viewpoint of the parents themselves. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 670 program participants. The analysis of program effectiveness yielded statistically significant favorable results at p \u3c .001 in seven key areas of parents’ lives, including: knowing who to contact in the community; having confidence in parenting ability; knowing how to meet family needs; having someone to talk to; making choices that reduce stress; standing up for family needs; and having relationships with supportive individuals. Furthermore, nearly all indicated that the program has helped them reach goals (98.0%), improve parenting skills (96.6%), and reduce stress in their lives (91.7%). These findings, supported by supplemental qualitative data, offer strong validation of the home visiting program