Construction Bulletin:  The information that follows is taken from our old literature, almost verbatim.  It is an accurate description of a home visit.   We will be revising this to further improve clarity, better integration with other parts of the web site, along with stylistic and spacing changes.  But we wanted to get  this in place now so that the web site can be the primary resource for people to learn about us, even as we make further improvements. 

We apologize for any inconvenience due to our "construction project."

WHAT IS A HOME VISIT?

The groundwork for a successful working relationship with FamilyLight begins with the home visit. Scheduled on a normal business day, it is a daylong meeting between the FamilyLight consultant and the family. The home visit must be on a day free from distractions, obligations, and all other responsibilities.  The purpose of this visit is to gain awareness of family interaction and to openly discuss the issues at hand.

WHY HAVE A HOME VISIT?

The tradition of home visits was instituted for three reasons:

 1.      Since our clients are scattered around the country, and to some degree around the world, the standard concept of the client going to a professional office is unrealistic.  It is far more cost-effective for the consultant to travel to the family.

2.      Some families engaging our services have a young person whose behavior is seriously out of control. Since getting to know the young person is vital to making any qualified recommendations, it is more practical, especially in these cases, for the consultant to travel to the family’s home.  Many oppositional young people would not go to a consultant's office, but we have yet to find a teen not at home for a home visit.  (Only exception has been a young lady involved a traffic accident while our consultant was on his way to her home)       

3.      Historically, Tom Croke discovered that he could learn more about people in their homes than in a professional office setting.

 The home visit establishes a sound basis for a working relationship by

·        Identifying the common ground among family members

·        Beginning the process of intervention with young people who may be resistant to moving in a constructive direction

·        Helping to determine that all alternatives are exhausted  before placement

·        Facilitating the observation of personality nuances that can contribute to the success or failure of any proposed solution

·        Giving the young person confidence that his/her life is not being run by a stranger and that the person guiding the parents knows and respects the young person

WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN A HOME VISIT?

 The parents, young person, and FamilyLight consultant are the main participants in the home visit and need to be available for the entire time without interruptions or scheduling conflicts.  The term “parent”, as used in this context, is defined as any person in an active parenting role with the child or young person. 

 All parties to legal or physical custody of the young person must be notified of the consultation and, depending on the individual circumstances, should be present for the entire home visit.  We have been advised by legal counsel that it is illegal for any person to engage in a process of educational planning without all parties to custody having the opportunity to participate fully.

 Although it is not essential that siblings be present, it is helpful for them to be available for a short time at the beginning or end of the visit; however, their schedules should not be disrupted for this visit.

 Professional input is obtained through telephone conversations with clinicians prior to or following the home visit.  Although it is not typical, occasionally a young person will request the presence of a therapist or trusted professional advocate to attend the home visit.  If arranged in advance, it is usually constructive for the young person making the request to have that professional present for approximately an hour at the beginning of the visit.

 When a young person is already in a placement outside the home and the “home visit” needs to be conducted at a specific program location, we like to have a representative of that facility present for about an hour at the beginning of the session. 

 SCHEDULING YOUR HOME VISIT

 When parents wish to engage the services of FamilyLight, a family coordinator will assist parents in completing the Service Agreement and scheduling the home visit. The home visit date is not confirmed until the completed and signed Service Agreement is in our possession at the Greensburg, PA office.

Home visits are scheduled Monday through Friday and are approximately five hours in length.  They generally begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude when the work is complete about 3:00 p.m.  Because the session might run longer, it is unwise to schedule anything immediately following this session.

PLANNING FOR THE HOME VISIT

 Perhaps the most important part of planning for a home visit is to be certain that the day is free of distractions and interruptions.  All parties need to be present at the agreed upon time.  Parents need to arrange to be absent from work and for the young person to be absent from school.  Telephones, cell phones, and pagers should be turned off during the meeting, allowing an answering machine to pick up all messages.  The consultant will have a cell phone to be accessible only to the FamilyLight office for emergencies.  Parents may also set up a means for someone to reach them in an emergency.  As the visit progresses, there may be several short breaks during which a parent could touch base with the workplace to deal with critical matters. 

If parents discover that the scheduled home visit date does not allow everyone involved to be available for the entire time, they should inquire about a change of date.  We will not start the visit until all are present, as we feel strongly that this level of commitment and cooperation is necessary to ensure the success of the home visit.  We will not schedule a home visit at a time that both parents cannot be present for the entire time and giving this event their full attention.

The FamilyLight consultant does not depart for a home visit until the Service Agreement has been received in our office in Greensburg, PA, and payment arrangements have been finalized. 

 The young person’s biography – written by the parent – and all available clinical and academic records regarding the young person should be sent directly to the consultant prior to the home visit.  The biography should be approximately two pages in length and should include a description of significant events in the young person’s life from infancy to the present.  A detailed psychosocial history, included as part of the clinical records, may be substituted for the biography, provided parents believe the history is accurate as stated.  More lengthy biographies are certainly welcome if parents feel additional information would give the consultant a better understanding of the young person.

To assist with your preparations, make sure you follow the checklist for a home visit.

DISCUSSING THE HOME VISIT WITH THE YOUNG PERSON

 Under no circumstances should parents lie to the young person.  One of the following options may exist:

·        If the young person is likely to be cooperative or enthusiastic about what we are doing, then it is generally wise to be as informative as possible regarding the home visit and consultation.

·        If the young person is angry, out of control, or locked in a power struggle with you, then it may be desirable to limit details of your conversation to essentials.  If you have doubts about his/her cooperation, notify him/her 48 hours prior to the visit.

Following are suggestions for a non-threatening discussion:

·       Communicate the idea that you believe there is a problem that you as a parent need help solving and that an outside consultant has been engaged to help the family resolve issues.  Tell the young person that this is a meeting to find a solution. 

·        If the young person chooses not to attend, a “solution” will be based solely on parental input, which may not be fair to the young person.  Attendance by the young person allows him/her to be involved in the decision-making process.  Since residential placement is at least a possibility, being present at the home visit avoids having a solution imposed without the young person’s input.

·        Invite the young person to telephone the consultant prior to the meeting.  Most will not actually make the call, but a few will.  The ones who don’t will at least know that they were invited to do so and will be somewhat reassured by the invitation.

 ·    Even the most challenging and out-of-control young person will generally participate in the home visit if the information has been presented in a fair and truthful manner.

PROCEDURES DURING THE HOME VISIT

Home visits normally begin at 10 a.m. on the scheduled date.  If necessary, alternate times may be discussed with your consultant; however, please read through this entire section before suggesting any variations.

The four basic goals of the morning session are as follows:

1.      To provide the young person with an opportunity to meet the consultant, to gain an understanding of what to expect from the consultant, and to decide how he/she wants to relate to the consultant.

2.      To assist the family in clearly defining their expectations of the consultant for the term of the Service Agreement.

3.      To clarify how the young person and the family progressed to the point that the services of FamilyLight were needed

4.   To affirm the young person’s positive qualities

Following the morning session, the consultant will take the young person to lunch. This provides a relaxed setting to discuss the young person’s basic concerns and to see how the youth views his/her role in the solution.  This is a flexible routine that can be adapted as needed.  The break time for parents is an opportunity to confer and process privately what has taken place during the morning session and to attend to personal or business concerns.

During lunch, the consultant is able to observe how the young person functions away from home. In this situation even the most resistant teenager usually responds well, has lowered anxieties, and communicates openly.  This private time enables the young person to express his/her point of view and specific concerns in a more neutral setting.  Even if a positive rapport is not developed at this time, young people in placement are likely to be less resentful and more invested if they feel they know “their consultant.”

After lunch, the consultant will begin to develop a plan with the entire family.  This plan could involve placement in a school or treatment center.  Or, a structured plan could be developed with a parent coach; this would allow the young person to continue living at home under a set of specific expectations known as a Home Contract.

If any of the above procedures cause concern, please discuss this with the consultant prior to the visit.

AFTER THE HOME VISIT

At the conclusion of the home visit, the consultant provides a time to answer any questions or concerns about the proposed “solution”.

The consultant, the family coordinator and the parent coach will fully develop the plan outlined during the home visit.  This can include contacting the treatment resources and/or schools and requesting literature, as well as facilitating the application process.  If the suggested plan includes efforts to allow the young person to remain at home, the family coordinator/parent coach will work with the parents to lay the groundwork for implementing a Home Contract.

For the term of the Service Agreement, the resources of FamilyLight will be at your disposal.