Home-Start

Home-Start International is a worldwide family support organization. Home-Start works with people who have parenting experience to support local parents.

Home-Start schemes have been established in Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Kenya, Lithuania, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda and the United Kingdom. Each national Home-Start scheme or association will support families with at least one child under five.

The original Home-Start programme was set up in Leicester, UK in 1973 by Margaret Harrison.John Bowlby describes it as a "home-visiting scheme which offers support, friendship, and practical assistance to young families experiencing difficulties. It is staffed by volunteers who work in close liaison with the related statuary services and who also receive support and guidance from a professional. All visits are by invitation of the family and on their own terms. There are no contracts and no time limits". He says "Often visiting is started whilst a mother is still pregnant. Most of those visited are young, impulsive, and dreadfully isolated and have never experienced affection, care, or security. In such cases the principal role of the volunteer is to mother the mother and so, by example, to encourage her to mother her own child. She will also talk and play with the children, again providing the mother with an example she has never had."

An evaluation of the pioneer project surveyed a random sample of one in five of 288 families visited and on a 3-point scale (no change, some change, considerable change) 85% of the families surveyed claimed considerable change and only two believed there was no change. The health visitors were almost as enthusiastic and even half of the volunteers claimed considerable change. It is not considered suitable in cases of chronic mental illness, serious degenerative illness, recidivism or people intent on children being admitted to care.

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