First 5 California has funded UConn to analyze data from their home visiting workforce study conducted by Child Trends. The home visiting workforce study was designed to improve the state’s understanding of the characteristics of home visitors and supervisors; available program implementation supports for staff; and program needs for workforce recruitment, development, and retention. Rachel Chazan Cohen worked on the original study which yielded several reports and evidence based policy recommendations. The state of California would like additional analysis to examine what factors predict home visitors and supervisors’ retention, understanding their mental health condition during COVID-19 as well as the protective role of mindfulness in home visitors’ COVID-related stress and depression. The findings will inform policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen the home visiting workforce, therefore providing home visiting service to the families with children from prenatal to age 5 more effectively.

ARC team: Rachel Chazan Cohen, Rong Huang

Funder: First 5 California