Featured Home Visiting Institute Workshops

You may download a list of workshops by clicking here.

Except where noted, workshops will be offered once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Into the Fire: Making Yourself Flame Resistant (morning only)

Janet Nickell Horras, Cofounder, Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals

Jon Korfmacher, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Chapin Hall

Home visiting is a deeply giving profession—but sustaining that level of care requires intentional boundaries and self-awareness. Building on concepts introduced in the keynote, this interactive session explores how professionals can avoid burnout while remaining compassionate and authentic in their work. Participants will examine practical strategies for ethical decision-making, identifying personal trigger points, and strengthening professional boundaries. Through reflection and applied tools, participants will leave with a personalized plan to help sustain their passion, protect their well-being, and strengthen the workforce from the inside out. 

The Journey of Self-Care (presented in Spanish) (afternoon only)

Lilis Deal, Home Visitor, Healthy Families, Brightpaths – Athens, GA

Participants are cordially invited to join a journey of self-care. In this workshop, they will embark on a practical and meaningful process to strengthen their well-being, starting now. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice self-care strategies alongside others, share enriching experiences, and engage in activities and role-playing exercises that support their self-care journey. Participants will learn that self-care is built through small, consistent actions, and over time, these steps can help feel more in harmony with their body, soul, and spirit. Support will be provided as they identify the practices that best meet their needs at this stage of life. Self-care is an ongoing process, and this workshop can serve as a valuable first step.

El viaje del autocuidado (presentado en español) (solo por la tarde)

Le invitamos cordialmente a acompañarnos en un viaje de autocuidado. En este taller, iniciará un proceso práctico y significativo para fortalecer su bienestar desde hoy. Durante el taller, usted podrá: practicar estrategias de autocuidado con otras personas, compartir experiencias enriquecedoras y participar en actividades y juegos de rol que apoyen su proceso de autocuidado. Aprenderá que el autocuidado se construye con acciones pequeñas y constantes. Con el tiempo, estos pasos pueden ayudarle a sentirse en mayor armonía con su cuerpo, alma y espíritu. Estaremos aquí para apoyarle mientras identifica las prácticas que mejor respondan a sus necesidades en esta etapa de su vida. El autocuidado es un proceso continuo, y este taller puede ser un valioso primer paso. 

Firearm Storage in Homes with Young Children: What Home Visitors Need to Know 

Melissa Osborne, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University.

Elizabeth McAdam, MS, LPC, PMH-C, Accreditation Manager and a Senior Training Specialist, National SafeCare Training and Research Center at Georgia State University.

Shannon Self-Brown, PhD, Child Clinical Psychologist, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, School of Public Health, Georgia State University

Secure firearm storage is estimated to prevent one-third of deaths among children due to firearm unintentional injury or suicide. Yet, in the U.S., 6.7 million children live in a home with a firearm that is not stored securely. Home visiting providers are trusted professionals from whom families could learn about secure firearm storage. In this session, participants will learn about the epidemiology of firearm injury among children, with a focus on unintentional injury and suicide. Participants will learn the role of secure storage in injury prevention, the types of locking devices available, and how they are used. Finally, the session will focus on discussions of firearm storage with parents, including with both owners and non-owners. Recommended approaches for beginning the discussion will be presented as well as strategies for answering common parent questions and concerns. 

The Father Factor: Helping Home Visiting Programs Thrive

Chris White, Executive Director, Father Movement, Inc.

Braxton Starks, Director of Engagement, Father Movement, Inc

Sherry Richardson, Title V Family Engagement Manager, Georgia Department of Public Health

Fathers play a powerful role in improving outcomes for mothers, babies, children, and families, yet they are often underserved in maternal health programs. This workshop will help practitioners learn how to build a thriving fatherhood and support partner initiative that strengthens family engagement, improves program outcomes, and supports key deliverables. Participants will hear unique perspectives from state agencies, nonprofits, and participating fathers while learning practical strategies to recruit and engage fathers, build internal support for fatherhood initiatives, leverage volunteers and community partners, create referral pathways, and develop sustainable fatherhood communities that provide ongoing support, education, accountability, and connection. 

Building Resilience: Supporting Emotional Regulation in Early Childhood 

Allison O’Hara, EdS, IMH-E® Child Advocacy Education Specialist, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

This training provides an overview of emotional regulation development in early childhood by exploring ways that grown-ups can support child regulation starting at birth through both proactive and in-the-moment co-regulation strategies. Participants receive links to several free emotional wellness resources including age-specific resilience tip sheets, feelings charts, coping skills visuals, and many other tools.  

Breastfriends

Paula Bugg-Wrenn, MD, Chief Operating Officer, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, Inc (ROSE)

Adiliah Smith, National Coordinator of Community Engagement and Training, Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, Inc (ROSE)

In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of providing lactation support to families. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to list three benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby, support moms in overcoming obstacles, identify factors that affect milk production and the breastfeeding relationship, demonstrate effective counseling strategies, explain effective latch & positioning of baby, and recognize potential consequences of unresolved breastfeeding issues and strategies to address them.

Raising Healthy Eaters: Safe, Pressure‑Free Feeding

Katherine Shary RD, LD, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (morning presenter)

Susan Bell, RD, LD, IBCLC, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (afternoon presenter)

In this interactive training, participants will learn how to help parents create a positive, pressure‑free mealtime environment from infancy through preschool. We’ll also cover which foods to offer, ensuring safety of allergens and choking risks. Participants leave with talking points and practical examples they can start using in conversations with families.

Strategies to Manage Behavior and Teach Communication in Children with Autism

Synita Griswell, MPH, Georgia Autism Initiative, Georgia Department of Public Health

Katherine Pickard, PhD, Marcus Autism Center

Gereen Frances, MS, BCBA, LBA, Tangerine Behavioral Consulting, LLC

The prevalence of children identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased over the past decade. This session explores common signs of autism in young children and strategies to help autistic children engage more, communicate more effectively, and manage challenging behaviors. Presenters will walk participants through evidence-based frameworks, including Project ImPACT and the Pyramid Model, that can be used at home with families of autistic children. 

Hotel rooms are available at the host site

at a special group rate on the evenings of August 17 and August 18.

Please click here to secure your reservation.

This rate expires on July 17, 2026.

The Georgia Home Visiting Institute is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Public Health, the United Way of Greater Atlanta

and the Georgia Department of Human Services.