Regardless of your role with AEA 267, safety should always be your top priority. For those staff who make home visits, staying safe requires extra vigilance and attention to detail.
The agency offers a “Home Visitor Safety” course each fall to anyone who will be providing home visits or would like more information on working safe. To register for the class, please sign up online at ‘My 267’ for professional development course #15305 “Introduction to Coaching and Home Visitor Safety.” If you are interested and become aware of additional safety courses available in your community, please share your interest with your Regional Administrator.
Aside from the Home Visitor Safety course, there are some basic guidelines that you can use in your daily work to help reduce your risks. Please take a minute to review these important reminders:
- If you ever feel unsafe, the agency supports you in driving by or leaving a home immediately. Always follow-up with a call to your Regional Administrator to report the incident.
- Always be aware of what is going on around you. Stay alert.
- Contact the family in advance and do some research if you need to. Plan your route and know your surroundings.
- Wear your AEA identification badge, have your cell phone charged, and be sure your online calendar is current so that your whereabouts are clearly known.
- Park in a well-lit area with access to an easy exit. Keep your keys handy and leave your purse (covered) in your car or trunk.
If you have some ideas on how to improve staff safety, feel free to share them with your Regional Administrator.