During these initial contacts, visitors provide information on parenting and on helpful resources in the community. Where families want more extended support, home visitors continue visiting, providing advice and information about other sources of help. These extended contacts are called phase II services. Programs focus on the needs of both the parents and their children and work with families to increase their healthy interactions. They help families improve their communication and teach parents effective ways to manage their children's behavior.
Programs also discuss child development and age appropriate expectations for children.
Services can be scheduled for set times or, in some programs, obtained on short notice in emergency situations. Respite care services also offer children care from trained staff in a safe environment and the opportunity to socialize with other children in organized play groups. SAP programs typically address children from preschool through eighth grade. Prevention materials may include videos, coloring books, comic books, plays, and films and are evaluated to ensure that they cover what is important to prevent sexual abuse, that the language and concepts they use are developmentally appropriate, and that they will not frighten children. They provide instruction to help parents understand their children better and to improve their parenting skills.