Home Visiting Framework & Guide (HVFG)
Thank you to all participants and communities who helped us to develop the Home Visiting Framework, Training and Resource Guide for healthcare workers making home visits in First Nations’ communities
Your thoughtful comments and feedback have been vital to the success of this project
This framework, training and resource guide is a tool to assist First Nations’ communities to support healthcare workers in best home visiting methods as part of a health care program.
There are many knowledge areas, specific skill sets and approaches needed of what to do before, during and after a home visit. These skills sets help to make home visits effective.
Examples include: knowing about the impacts of colonization and other assimilation practices on First Nations’ families and health; learning about the community; knowing how to set goals with families; observing; following a plan; reporting; knowing how and when to take action; linking a person to available resources; ethical decision-making; personal safety; documentation; etc.
Over a two year period, valuable information, wisdom and guidance was shared between diverse and knowledgeable First Nations advisory committee members and VON Canada which helped to shape the creation and direction of this framework, training and resource guide. Information was gathered from advisors, informed persons, literature, training materials (manuals, guides, and tools), program and document review. Current home visiting practices in First Nations communities and best home visiting practices were also explored.
The result was:
- The development of a Home Visiting Framework Guide – useful for supervisors/trainers.
- The development of a Training Strategy (Training and Resource Guide plus a field Handbook) that was successfully piloted in 4 communities, (one was a Tribal Council) and their neighbouring Bands. – useful for trainers to teach with and/or as self-directed learning for staff.
- Recommendations for the implementation of the training plan/strategy based on experiences.
Throughout the project, the work was vetted through actual end users and modifications made based on what the advisors and users said. The users expressed that they could use these tools right away and were happy that their contributions were recognized in the final products for “their People”.
The framework, training and resource guide joins:
Knowledge, competencies and behaviours that support culturally safe, strength-based and client/family -centered care in First Nations communities.
AND
Ideals, standards, methods, structures and tools that historically and currently support best home visiting practices.
For more information
Please email us at nahi@von.ca
or call 1–877–566-0293