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7.6.4 Strengthened the Program Philosophy and Structure
Operating within the program’s structure and philosophy were important for all
three programs, but especially for the two curriculum-based programs, Welcome Baby
Utah County and the Community Mothers Programme. In these two programs, the
curriculum itself, as well as the approach or philosophy used to conduct the visits and
share the curriculum materials, were important program features.
Several participants from both programs noted that the program model and
philosophy were reinforced and strengthened because the staff were actively involved
in home visiting, as the staff were always “very much in tune” with the model, and could
maintain their own skills in implementing the curriculum. One experienced volunteer
explained that having staff who were both ‘fluent’ in the program’s curriculum and able
to occasionally accompany volunteers on home visits allowed for the curriculum to be
implemented more consistently, in spite of the program being delivered by so many
people: “I think we do need staff members to come on home visits. I think they more
regulate how the visits should go, and what should be accomplished, and it's… more
uniform as the volunteers go throughout the community, so that we are all doing the
same thing.”
7.6.5 Created a Stronger Volunteer-Staff Team
Participants from all three programs related that, when staff were actively doing
home visiting, this increased cohesion among team members – between managers and
front-line staff, and between staff and volunteers. As one manager explained, “It keeps
you on the same level as everyone. You’re part of a team - I have a role to do, but I’m
part of a team, and we can share the experiences.”
Volunteers and staff alike stressed that, in the eyes of these programs’
volunteers, the credibility of staff members was increased because they are “singing
from the same hymn sheets, and experiencing the same issues” as the volunteers. One
volunteer shared that: “When they [staff] are visiting families, I believe they’re doing
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