Partners in Community Outreach is a coalition of West Virginia research-based In-Home Family Education programs. The vision of Partners in Community Outreach is that every West Virginia family from pregnancy until children are at least three years of age has the opportunity to participate in a high-quality In-Home Family Education program in their local community.
The mission of Partners in Community Outreach is to build a statewide system of In-Home Family Education that assures program quality and accountability--helping programs to improve child health, increase school readiness, enhance parenting skills, and reduce child maltreatment.
What is In-Home Family Education?
In-Home Family Education is a powerful, proactive strategy to reduce adverse childhood
experiences. These programs build “protective factors” which enable families to deal
more successfully with whatever challenges arise. Protective factors are the safeguards
(health screenings or parent education, for instance) that help families avoid or cope
with negative experiences that could otherwise lead to poor outcomes for their children
(such as medical problems or failing grades).
What do In-Home Family Educators do?
In Home Family Educators provide voluntary parenting education and support to families
with young children in their homes. They help parents understand their role as their
child’s first and most important teacher. They provide information and support in such
areas as prenatal care, child health, early learning and literacy, and child development
and behavior, They help connect families to resources in their community and help families
stay together safely. This is done by emphasizing each family’s strengths and helping
them reach their goals.
In-Home Family Education Staff Visit WV Delegates & Senators
In-Home Family Education staff visited the capitol on February 17, 2009, to thank their West Virginia Delegates and Senators for their support of In-Home Family Education. Members of the WV Legislature received copies of In-Home Family Education Update. [Download here]
IMAGINE WEST VIRGINIA Pushes for In-Home Family Education Services
Expansion of In-Home Family Education services statewide is a primary recommendation of IMAGINE WEST VIRGINIA in their report, "Right and Smart." The report emphasizes the critical importance of quality early care and education services to the economy of West Virginia. It offers two specific, research-based recommendations: 1) Advance a system of early child care which is available, affordable, and adheres to a Quality Rating and Improvement System; 2) Create a comprehensive system of In-Home Family Education across the entire state, providing quality parenting assistance both before birth and the first years of life. The "Right and Smart" report can be found online at www.imaginewestvirginia.com.
Second Parent Survey Evaluation Results Released
Partners in Community Outreach recently released the results of their second Parent Survey evaluation. A total of 396 parents enrolled in eleven In-Home Family Education programs completed the survey. Results indicate that In-Home Family Educators are effective in achieving outcomes related to improved health and well-being of young children and are able to establish strong and supportive relationships with the families they serve. Protective factors known to reduce the incidence of child maltreatment appear to be increased in participating parents. Click here for the full report.
"Safety of the Home Visitor"
Partners in Community Outreach recently sponsored a training event, "Safety of the Home Visitor." Participants received a copy of Safety Guideline Manual for Home Visitors. You can download this manual here, or request copies from angie@wvpartners.org.
Announcement of Approved Applicants:
The Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Children and Families, Office of Finance and Administration has announced the approved applicants for In-Home Family Education funding for Fiscal Year 08-09, totaling $245,000. Programs receiving funding for expansion of services include: ABLE Families, Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network and Marshall County Starting Points. The following programs received funding to establish an In-Home Family Education program: Wetzel County Center for Children and Families, Monongalia County Family Resource Network and Preston County Caring Council.
Benedum Foundation Support of In-Home Family Education Continues
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation awarded Partners in Community Outreach a $200,000 grant to continue building the components of a state system of In-Home Family Education. This has made it possible to hire a state Coordinator. Funding will be used to support training, evaluation and quality assurance, technical assistance, and collaboration efforts.
