By Sierra Morse, Communications and Marketing Strategist
Systems are built by people. And people are only as strong as the support around them.
This year, 95 home visiting leaders from across Arizona gathered for the annual Home Visiting Supervisors Institute (HVSI)—two days of learning, reflection, and connection.
Home visiting pairs trained professionals with families during the earliest years of a child's life. Supervisors are the backbone of that work, helping teams stay grounded, supported, and connected to purpose. HVSI is designed to support supervisors in achieving all that.
Day one opened with findings from a workforce research study that highlighted gaps in training, retention, and workforce sustainability. As one participant shared, "The data reinforced the importance of supporting home visitors through training, supervision, and professional development to improve outcomes for families."
The afternoon focused on Conscious Leadership, exploring self-awareness, workplace culture, and recognizing dynamics through the Drama Triangle framework.
Day two zoomed out to the broader home visiting landscape in Arizona, including sessions on training development and creating a personal leadership vision. The Institute closed with a reflective art activity led by Art Heals Arizona, in which participants created "tree ring" artwork representing their leadership journeys. As one attendee noted, "Each supervisor has their own story and reason for choosing their career, but no matter how different we are, all are working toward the same goal."
Ninety-seven percent of attendees learned something new, and 94% said they could apply what they learned immediately. Yet what participants consistently described as most valuable wasn't the curriculum; it was taking the time to be together.
Every system that serves people depends on people. When those people feel supported, the work holds. Supporting the people who support families isn't a nice-to-have. It's the foundation.