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Home Visits

The 2008/09 work of the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health was informed by an environmental scan designed to identify priority issues in early child development. The scan identified public health early child home visiting as an important aspect of early child development programs and services. However, the scan also identified a lack of clarity regarding the evidence to support the practice of home visiting and a general lack of knowledge of the variety of home visiting programs across Canada.

Given the identification of home-visiting as an issue meriting further exploration and the wide availability, but lack of clarity, of literature in the area, the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health has been working to synthesize, translate and exchange knowledge about public health early child home visiting.

Work to Date

  • Public Health Early Child Home Visiting Forum - The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health and the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health co-hosted the "Early Child Development Forum: Exploring the Contribution of Public Health Early Child Home Visiting" October 14-16, 2008 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. For more information on the Forum, including accompanying documents and reports, please click here.

  • Public Health Early Child Home Visiting Business Case – Based on recommendations received through the "Early Child Development Forum: Exploring the Contribution of Public Health Early Child Home Visiting," the NCCDH is currently in the process of preparing and translating a public health early child home visiting business case. For more information on the business case, please click here.

  • Pan-Canadian Inventory of Home Visiting Programs - Home visiting for families of young children is a preventive intervention strategy aimed at improving the experience and outcome of a child's early years. The NCCDH has been conducting an inventory of home visiting programs across Canada. For more information on the Pan-Canadian Inventory of Home Visiting Programs, click here.

  • Synthesis of Public Health Early Child Home Visiting Systematic Reviews - This review attempts to bring together the best available evidence on early child home visiting, in order to aid in assessment and in the design of effective home visiting interventions in the Canadian context. To read the review or for more information, click here.

    • Upcoming Work

    Our work to date has provided us a foundation from which to continue exploring public health early child home visiting in the upcoming year. We plan to:
  • Produce high quality knowledge products from the 2008/09 pan-Canadian Early Child Development home visiting inventory
  • Be a key national catalyst and driver to promote evidence informed public health nursing practice in early child development
  • Conduct a literature review and synthesis regarding the role of public health nurses in early child development as a determinant of health and contribution to health equity
  • Host a forum (think tank) in Quebec to:
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  • showcase public health early child development home visiting in Quebec and its outcomes
  • present 2008/09 NCCDH home visiting work including business case, inventory, products, etc.
  • present early child development home visiting research and evidence
  • identify next steps in KSTE
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  • Develop KSTE products for public health practitioners from tacit knowledge gathered through 2008/09 early child development activities