A Study Design Exploring Virtual Service Delivery in Home Visiting

The COVID-19 pandemic forced home visiting programs to transition quickly from in-person services to virtual delivery. As the field weighs the continued role of virtual visits going forward, there is a need to define what quality implementation looks like when participants are in different locations.

This report presents a sample study design focused on the types of supports needed to implement services virtually while maintaining implementation quality and model fidelity. Related information includes—

• A summary of prior studies on virtual service delivery in home visiting
• Details about the sample needed, data sources and measurement options, and an analysis plan
• Practical considerations
• Implications of findings
• Summary of next steps

The report is part of a project conducted by JBA and Child Trends under the direction of the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration for Children and Families. Previous publications include a literature and measure review of quality considerations for home visiting implementation and a conceptual framework.