Innovative Research Methods to Advance Precision in Home Visiting for More Efficient and Effective Programs

Area of Science:

• Early Childhood Development
• Evidence-Based Interventions
• Public Health Programs

Background:

• Home visiting programs during early childhood offer significant benefits for children and families.
• Current evidence-based models show small average impacts, with effects varying across different family subgroups.
• There is a need for novel research approaches to improve the efficiency and targeted effectiveness of home visiting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of precision approaches to enhance home visiting program outcomes.
• To identify strategies for improving efficiency and strengthening effects for specific family subgroups.
• To outline a research agenda for precision home visiting.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing existing evidence on home visiting models and their effectiveness.
• Explaining precision approaches and their application to home visiting.
• Focusing research on 'ingredients' of home visiting, practitioner collaboration, near-term outcomes, and innovative study designs.

Main Results:

• Existing research demonstrates variable effects of home visiting across families, highlighting the need for tailored approaches.
• Precision home visiting research investigates specific program components ('ingredients') and their impact on near-term outcomes.
• Collaboration with practitioners and innovative study designs are key to accelerating learning about what works for whom.

Conclusions:

• Precision home visiting offers a promising pathway to optimize early childhood interventions.
• This approach requires a shift towards understanding specific program components and their differential effects.
• Four pillars of research are proposed to guide the development and implementation of precision home visiting services.