1. Change Package
Your Team Name: Scottdale Child Development and Family Resource Center
Topic Area: Family Engagement
Name of the Intervention: Parent incentive program - “Parent Bucks”
Primary Driver: Retention/HV Completion

2. Definition of the Intervention
Our aim is to increase the number of mothers that keep their scheduled home visits AND attend group connection meetings by implementing a parent incentive program called “Parent Bucks”.

3. Description of the Intervention
Parent Educator distributes “Parent Bucks” at each home visit; the bucks are used to purchase household items, developmental toys, and gift baskets at the “Parent Store” that is open during group connection meetings.
$5 in Bucks given at each home visit
$2 additional Bucks earned by completing a homework assignment given from the prior home visiting session
Maximum earnings per month is $14 Parent Bucks
Stock Parent Store stocked items from the local dollar store
Estimated total cost of parent store is $200

4. How is the intervention carried out?
Decide how many bucks will be given out at each home visit
Determine how many additional bucks can be earned and what actions earn additional bucks
Shop for items to sell in the parent store (or find donations). Get a variety of items – household, developmental toys, stuff for moms, etc.
Decide how often Parent Store will be open for families to redeem their bucks
Give out bucks to parents and encourage/remind them about the Parent Store at Group Connection Meetings
Open store and let parents shop! 

5. Evidence that the intervention is effective
Parent Bucks were initially distribute to families. The families appeared to enjoy and accepted the new program well. If the Parent Educator forgot to give the Bucks, the family would remind the Parent Educator. The Parent Educator also enjoyed giving out the Bucks.
The parents demonstrated more interest in attending the next Group Connection meeting because they would be given the opportunity to shop in the Parent Store and enjoyed shopping in the Parent Store. Families were able to purchase individual items. For example, one mother used her Bucks to purchase glasses and bowls which she needed for her new apartment.
The percentage of expected in-person contacts completed increased in the two months following the initiation of the intervention.

6. Pre-requisites for the intervention
Store Materials – either donations or purchases to stock the store
Parent Bucks – design and print out the Bucks
Rules for when/how much a family gets for completing visits, etc.
Location to have store during Group Connections

7. Advice Barriers / Challenges Key advice to overcome barriers
Items to Include
Get an assortment of items, especially items to pamper the mothers. Lotions, household items, etc. were more popular than toys.
Burden of Cost
Get donations!
Burden of Time Shopping
Rotate person in charge of shopping for items / setting up store.

8. References/ Inspiration (if applicable)
Our staff heard someone else mention the idea in a previous Georgia Home Visiting Institute and we shamelessly stole the idea.