The Strengthening Families through Home Visitation course will provide students with an advanced training and understanding of family home visiting principles and strategies for positive support that improves the quality of life for families. An enhanced quality of life for families reduces negative impacts within the family, on society and the environment while directly supporting children’s growth and development. Students will engage in intensive sessions of identified evaluation topics. Much of the research focuses on the purpose and benefits of family home visiting, nurturing diversity, equity, and inclusion in home environments, administering emotional support, information, and referrals of community resources and services to families. There is also focus on critical thinking skills to analyze and apply prevention strategies to support family well-being, and how to meet the emergent needs of the family. The primary focus is strengthening parent-child relationships and helping families to become self-sufficient. Moreover, increased awareness and knowledge of broader career opportunities inclusive of family home visitation and an opportunity for community outreach is an integral part of the student learning outcomes.

The members of the Strengthening Families through Home Visitation class are affected by an array of issues such as, race, ethnicity, nationality, origin, class, sex, gender, special needs, physical or mental abilities, religion, and age from various levels of society reflective of privilege and oppression. Although everyone’s history is uniquely theirs, we will strive to learn from each other and respect all individuals. As an assistant clinical professor and training consultant, I will model the way and aim to foster an environment that is conducive to a respectful, learning safe zone. As I am human, I make mistakes. I appreciate honesty and feedback to hold me accountable for corrective action and to maintain strong, collaborative relationships. I ask the same of my students in their interaction with me and their peers.

The Strengthening Families through Home Visitation class is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students that seek to learn strategic ways how to enhance the quality of living and life through family home visitation. This course is for students of any major that would like to gain awareness of experiences and expertise of jobs and careers that may require family home visiting. The goal is for students to develop the knowledge, skills, abilities and understanding for fostering families in their home. Students are expected to be engaged in class discussion, identify, and analyze needs and seek potential resolutions to support the identified needs of families.

My approach to mentoring students is in one-on-one meetings at least once per week. With a discussion agenda, the meetings will individualize the needs of the student or for a check-in. A discussion agenda, developed by the student, allows me and the student to plan better for specific discussion topics. The agenda is just a guide and can change as mentorship continues. Conversations will focus on the agenda topics and the learning process. I teach and train individuals by utilizing strategies, techniques, procedures, regulations, and research information. I teach individuals to analyze information and articles about families to identify potential issues and concerns for referral and monitoring. In addition, I teach individuals how to approach and work collaboratively with families, write case notes, narratives, executive summaries, and essays which focus on detailed facts. I will provide feedback on each student’s completed assignments. Lastly, I will provide students with detailed instructions on assignments and how to be successful in this course.

The best mentor-mentee fit will always be positive, productive, and rewarding. The relationship and communication are not forces but work effortlessly. Thriving students who work with me should demonstrate, at a minimum:

• Self-Start and Self-Motivation
• Organizational skills
• Time management skills
• Passion for their work
• School/work/life balance
• Respect and Work with a diverse group of individuals
• Working toward perfection (No one is perfect but if you strive for perfection, you will reach excellence. I like the motto “reach for the moon and hope for the stars.” Either way you made it to the top.)
• Open, honest, and effective communication

Mentoring guarantees thriving students that an experienced professional supports growth of their present and future well-being through nurtured guidance. I value serving as a source of knowledge to help students set measurable goals to achieve tasks. My mentoring strategies encourage and inspire positive connections that builds confidence. I empower and advise students after listening to their needs and desires while building trust. By establishing trust students understand that any guidance and constructive criticism provided is to only build and grow them professionally.

In mentoring, I have high expectations and value accountability and professionalism. I expect students to practice consistency, work hard and stay focused on achieving their goals. In addition, planned check-ins and tracking progress supports accountability and helps students become successful. I encourage networking with other like-minded individuals for students to develop and grow professionally and personally. Professionalism is a powerful quality and involves setting your own ambitious standards. Professionalism is not the work you do, but how you do the work. Working in your role as a student, to the best of your ability, with a cheerful outlook and conduct leads to success and a reputation that will inspire others. I believe gaining useful skills that leads to practicing and mastering the balance of professional and personal life for self-care often leads to developed leadership strengths. Establishing work-life or schoolwork- life balance is vital to success.

In my mentoring interactions I am organized and strategic. Students can expect me to set deadlines, share knowledge and information in an interesting way, provide feedback (positive and constructive), and clearly state expectations. Students enrolled in the course Strengthening Families through Home Visitation will grow personally and professionally. Learning how to identify concerns and support others holistically from their homes will indirectly help students recognize their own strengths and how to be of service to others in a productive yet meaningful way. This adds zeal to my mission and purpose for helping others be successful.