Strategies for implementation of virtual home visitation in the United States

Abstract

Utilising telepractice videoconferencing technology to offer home visitation services has the potential to provide access and parenting support through a high-tech and high-touch service delivery option. Families can receive evidence-based, family support intervention from their home via videoconferencing technology, removing the need for the provider to be physically in the home. While the expansion of telehealth and telepractice services for families is essential for meeting the needs of both parents and their children, well-documented engagement barriers to digital health/ computer-mediated interventions exist across treatment modalities and technology platforms. Semi-structured interviews with 15 providers were conducted and analysed to identify engagement strategies utilised to sustain families in a home visitation model offered through live videoconferencing technology on a telehealth platform. Analysis revealed four themes that were deemed essential for successfully attracting and maintaining families in a telepractice-based home visitation programme: (a) engagement strategies to encourage families to participate; (b) clinical skills used within sessions; (c) articulation of benefits to the family; and (d) exploration of rationale forending services. This study was able to identify strategies for engagement and sustained involvement of families in telehealth-based home visitation. Findings include evidence that providers should be able to move between telehealth and on-ground service provision with relative ease.

Evaluation of a multi-site health services psychology training program for telehealth and integrated behavioral health

“…However, with the transition to telehealth as a common mode of healthcare service delivery during COVID-19, a need for expanded training emerged. Training in telehealth can reduce or eliminate the perceived barriers of using telehealth resulting in higher levels of provider comfort and satisfaction with delivering services through telehealth (Traube et al, 2021). Some examples of telehealth competencies for providers across various disciplines have been proposed over the years.…”

Adapting prevention programs for virtual delivery: A case study in adapting a parent-focused child sexual abuse prevention module

“…1,3 The COVID-19 pandemic was an undeniable contextual change wherein the need for virtually-delivered social programs, including those that provide skills and social support to at-risk parents and their children (e.g., home visiting), was urgent. 4–6…”

“…1,3 The COVID-19 pandemic was an undeniable contextual change wherein the need for virtually-delivered social programs, including those that provide skills and social support to at-risk parents and their children (e.g., home visiting), was urgent. [4][5][6] The pandemic accelerated a transition toward virtual parent-focused services. Telehealth has been used for over a decade to provide access to hard-to-reach parents and to support urgent medical and behavioral health needs.…”