8 WAYS HOME VISITORS CAN FACILITATE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT

Here are some keys to creating a respectful relationship with families that will lead to the facilitation of family empowerment.

Practice empathy

Try to learn all you can about the family. Listen carefully and nonjudgmentally to see the world and the situation as the other person sees it.

Ask open-ended questions

Invite family members to share and be heard. Well-phrased questions asked with genuine interest encourage parents to articulate their own thoughts about their children.

Listen attentively and with reflection

Active and reflective listening is critical to the development of relationships that are respectful and trustworthy.

Avoid jargon

Be careful not to use terms and acronyms that might be unfamiliar and misunderstood by family members.

Focus on strengths, achievements, and desires

Instead of zeroing in on problems or deficits, you can support families' confidence and adaptive potential by emphasizing strengths and solution-focused discussions.

Prepare families for change

Changes are inevitable as a child gets older. Provide the support families need to navigate these changes with the least amount of stress.

Adapted from The Art and Practice of Home Visiting, Second Edition by Ruth E. Cook & Shirley N. Sparks