Participants' perceptions of healthy families: A home visitation program to prevent child abuse and neglect

This qualitative study of 46 randomly selected participants of a home visitation program explores current participants' perceptions of the intake process, the program's purpose, and the relationship between the home visitor and the participant. The findings reveal that the participant and home visitor relationship is a central feature of the program. Not only do participants relate their personal achievements to the quality of their relationship with their home visitor, but through a positive relationship with the mother, the home visitor is able to address parenting behaviors that are harmful to the child. These findings are important in that prior research has questioned the ability of strength-based home visitation programs to address major risk factors for child maltreatment. Recommendations are made for improving the intake process so that fewer parents will experience initially negative reactions to home visitation.