Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/149155 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 10296
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Although there is ample support for the causal link between home visit parenting programs and child development outcomes, few studies have explored what it is that drives this relationship – to what extent home visit programs are implemented as designed in terms of the content and strategies used by home visitors. To our knowledge, comparable data on the quality and fidelity of implementation in home visit programs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) does not exist. In light of this gap, this note presents a snapshot of home visit quality in seven countries in which home visits reach a considerable number of children. Using an observational checklist tool, we find strong rapport between visitors and families, and consistent involvement of caregivers and children in practicing activities during the visit. However, visitors rarely explain the importance of these activities in relation to child development, often times do not bring the necessary materials, and do little to encourage meaningful dialogue and feedback from caregivers nor demonstrate the desired activity or behavior. Only one third of the observed visitors emphasized language development throughout the visit. It is important to emphasize that these results are not generalizable due to the small and non-random nature of the sample of home visits observed. Nonetheless, this study serves as a pilot of the instrument and type of domains that can and should be measured in a home visit program in order to ensure implementation quality.
Subjects: 
early childhood development
quality
home visiting programs
process quality
Brazil
Nicaragua
Peru
Panama
Jamaica
Ecuador
Bolivia
JEL: 
J13
H53
H75
I38
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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