Baby face qualitative Evaluation

 
Baby FACE 
Wilder Research, January 2015 
 
Qualitative Evaluation 
29 
Six of the parent educators specifically noted success in building on previous connections they 
had from other jobs or relationships in the community.
I have developed relationships with people over my professional career. I am not afraid to ask 
people for something. I have been a program manager and have supervised people. I know how to 
network. I just have kept on doing what I always have been doing in building partnerships.
Being a parent myself, way back, when my kids were in school, so knowing the district then. . . . 
Basically, just being out there and being involved, being an active community member. 
Two parent educators noted that they developed agreements or compacts with agencies
to clearly specify the roles each organization will play in serving families.
Three parent educators noted doing personalized searches for families who needed or wanted a 
specific resource.
First, getting to know the families well, and then getting them the information they are wanting to 
know about. I go and find that information. I look for information from a pediatrician, for example. 
Referring families to resources
One of the main ways parent educators helped link families to resources was through Family 
Circle events (mentioned by staff at 10 sites). Through interacting with invited presenters at 
events, families both learned about a new topic and were able to connect to a resource they may 
have not heard about before. Topics mentioned included: domestic violence, car seat safety, 
vision and dental health, parenting skills and activities, school information (e.g., Head Start and 
IEPs), CPR, diabetes and nutrition, injury prevention and home safety, substance abuse, and 
cultural education.
Parent educators also invited resources to set up mobile vans or participate in resource fairs, as 
another way to bring resources to families. This was especially effective for linking families to 
public health resources, such as early intervention, oral health exams, and car seat safety, which 
most families would benefit from. Resource fairs allowed families to learn about a multitude of 
resources all in one place.
We let them know in advance that, for example, that the mobile van is going to be here. We have it 
on the calendar ahead of time. We have our phone, Facebook - all the families are on Facebook - 
so we will post there, and they get it and come out [to the mobile van].
I also do a Family Circle every month, which varies every month how many come. Last month I had 
the Circle of Smiles, where they would look at their teeth. A lot of parents don’t have any rides, so it 
is hard for them to get their child to a dental appointment across on the other reservation. 
We had [a resource] fair. At every booth there are all the different resources. 

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