Baby face qualitative Evaluation

 
Baby FACE 
Wilder Research, January 2015 
 
Qualitative Evaluation 
23 
2), dogs at family’s homes (2), or in one site, a supervisor reported that both parent educators 
were stalked, creating an unsafe situation.
Two parent educators and one supervisor noted how the parent educator position was very 
demanding and much more like being a social worker or therapist.
Most of the time, we are like therapists, trying to make the best of the situation we are in. That can 
impact, with us feeling very drained at the end of the visit. It is almost like we are doing social work. 
I was unaware of that piece of it when I went into this job. 
Administrative challenges
Parent educators (10) and supervisors (2) at 10 sites noted some challenges with paperwork and 
technology. Accessing the curriculum and printing materials was challenging due to unreliable 
internet connections. Completing all the required documentation in Visit Tracker was time 
consuming and took away time with families.
It is trying to access them when the internet is messed up and we can’t get on. I have to go to the 
library of the community center to print things out. 
I would rather just go out and do the home visits than to do the reports. Maybe have someone that 
could do the reports for me. I would like to be out there spending more time with my parents. 
Parent educators (8) and supervisors (3) at seven sites experienced difficulties getting 
reimbursements or access to program funds for meals and presenters at Family Circle events or 
for activities for the home visits. In some cases this was because only one person was able to 
purchase supplies; in other cases, requisitions had to be made so far in advance, money couldn’t 
be accessed when it was needed. One supervisor also felt as though their local Baby FACE site 
was not adequately reimbursed from PATNC given the amount of paperwork and reporting that 
was required.
The business tech is the only person who has the credit card, and has to go out with us to 
purchase items. That can be the hardest part. 
The only challenge is to have the stuff you need to do that activity. We have a grant to go get it. 
You have to put in a requisition for it, and sometimes you can’t use them right away if you don’t 
have the materials for the activity, but that is a planning thing. Sometimes, you make things for the 
activity, and then the child wants to keep it, so you have to make it again. 
Three parent educators noted challenge keeping families engaged due to staff turnover. Given the 
significant role trust played in building relationships to families, this change in parent educators 
was disruptive, if unavoidable.
In my group, there has been a lot of turnover. For some families I am their third PE. 

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