Baby face qualitative Evaluation

 
Baby FACE 
Wilder Research, January 2015 
 
Qualitative Evaluation 
8 
Parents also noted the trust and personal relationships they developed with parent educators. In 
some ways, parent educators became “like family” and were invited to join in meals and family 
events. 
It’s like going to my mom, asking her to guide me. 
[My child] likes his teacher because it’s his grandma. He calls “my grandma teacher is coming.”
Sometimes she’ll catch us when we’re cooking, and she’ll wait and watch. One time we were 
making bread and [parent educator] got her input and participated with us.
Social networking
Facebook proved an effective communication tool for recruitment and ongoing implementation 
at eight sites, mentioned by both parents and staff. It also served as a way for parents to 
connect with each other.
We have a Facebook page, so all of our families are on Facebook. Sometimes they respond to our 
writings. They are connecting in a way that is more social networking. 
I think through Facebook [we have success with home visits]. We let the families know that we are 
having visits and that if they cannot make their visits, they should contact us. 
I went to high school with [parent educator] and I posted that I had a baby on Facebook and she 
found me. 
Facebook has been a really helpful way to stay connected.
Challenges 
The time commitment, scheduling, and no shows 
At least one staff person at all 18 sites noted the challenges time and scheduling had on enrolling 
families, maintaining regular participation with families, and implementing home visits with 
families. Some families were reluctant to enroll because they were too busy and were unwilling 
to find the time; others enrolled, but had difficulty keeping their appointments, often due to 
medical appointments, or work or school schedules. Sometimes families simply refused to answer 
the door when parent educators arrived, especially when parents were doing door-to-door 
recruitment. Families not being home for their appointments was a challenge aggravated by 
transportation issues and distance between homes and offices, as discussed further below. This 
challenge was aggravated at the first of the month when families received benefit checks and 
were out shopping. 
Some parents are busy. Some families don’t have the time. Setting times with families and then 
them keeping their times [is challenging]. 

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