- Programs to Support Families
- County Departments of Human/Social Services
- Supporting Social-Emotional Development
- CCCAP Administration
- Grantees and Vendors
- Early Childhood Councils
- Strengthening Colorado Families and Communities
- Colorado Shines Brighter (PDG B-5)
- Senate Bill 19-063
- Telehealth, Teleconsultation and Virtual Coaching
Telehealth, Teleconsultation and Virtual Coaching Resources
Resources have been identified to guide programs and professionals as they implement new service delivery models utilizing available technology.
The following best practices were identified by Child Trends.
Research-supported technological outreach strategies:
Providers may need to adjust typical service delivery strategies to best recognize and meet the needs of families. For example:
While the field is learning how to best implement telehealth, programs can also adapt strategies from traditional home visiting as they move to virtual visits during the COVID-19 crisis.
The following best practices were identified by Child Trends.
Research-supported technological outreach strategies:
- Video calls. Many states are allowing providers to use video calls to parents to address families’ needs for support. Parents as Teachers has partnered with the University of Southern California to test the use of video calls to offer home visiting services; preliminary research shows high rates of parent satisfaction. While video calls are a great way to reach families, not all families will be able to take advantage, and providers can support families through other means.
- Texting and messaging apps. Telehealth may also include providing supports using texting or messaging services, and some research finds that these technologies enhance the effectiveness of programs.
- Online content. Telehealth may also involve providing relevant information online. Some parenting programs that typically offer information to parents in a group-based setting have offered online versions of their programs to reduce barriers to access, finding that outcomes were the same for in-person and web participation. Programs that use online content for parents have found that online versions of parent support can improve outcomes for families and for children. Parent engagement with online content can be strengthened when providers check in with parents about the content and reinforce ideas.
Providers may need to adjust typical service delivery strategies to best recognize and meet the needs of families. For example:
- Families and providers need technology support. When using video conferencing, technology glitches may affect the quality of interactions with families. Programs should provide support to both staff and parents to troubleshoot problems. Not all families will have regular access to web-supported devices for virtual visits (although some providers are offering open access to wifi during the crisis), so programs should provide a range of telehealth support.
- Providers must be even more attentive to privacy concerns than usual during virtual visits, particularly around challenging topics such as depression or intimate partner violence. For example, a parent’s risk is potentially amplified given that they or other family members may be in close contact with an abuser who is also practicing social distancing. Providers must be able to communicate with other practitioners who have expertise in these difficult topics and can provide additional services to families—both of which can be done remotely.
While the field is learning how to best implement telehealth, programs can also adapt strategies from traditional home visiting as they move to virtual visits during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Good communication skills remain important to engage with families. To communicate well using video, providers should set up equipment to allow eye contact with the family to strengthen rapport. They should minimize distractions such as background noise and think carefully about what is in their background (for example, choose a blank wall as a backdrop).
- Support to parents extends beyond the home visit. Programs can text to check in on parents or reinforce content between meetings. Texting to support parents can increase their overall engagement in the program.
- It’s important to create day and time boundaries for communication with families. Since telehealth technology is available around the clock, providers must be supported by programs to clearly set expectations and boundaries when they engage with families.