Effective Home Visits

1
Effective Home Visits

• by
• Kristin Cotner, OTR/L
• Early Intervention Inservice at
• LaFontaine Bleu
• Wednesday, October 3, 2007

2
Objective

• To build meaningful, effective home visit
  sessions for both the families we serve and
  ourselves, as early intervention providers

3
Getting Started

• Cell phones Didnt we live without them at
  one time?
• Time management
• Toy bags
• Ask probing, open-ended questions when possible
• How has Lucas been doing since our last visit?
• Has he been in good health?
• Has he had any follow-up clinic appointments?

4
The importance of review

• Use the parent binder
• Pull and review the previous home visit sheet in
  detail
• Request feedback from parent

5
Dont just dive right in!

• Ask parent to demonstrate activities with child
  from previous home visit

6
This is Greek!

• Use family-friendly language
• Provide modeling of techniques
• Discuss what you are doing and why

7
But I cant get Lucas to do it when youre gone!

• Offer alternative positions or modifications to
  the exercises you are suggesting

8
Never underestimate the value of encouragement
support

• Offer the parent multiple opportunities for
  practice during the home visit
• Provide facilitation to ensure success
• Praise even small accomplishments
• Empathize

9
Potential for derailment

• Are there siblings in the home?
• Jerry Springer or The Wiggles
• Are there additional stressors in the home?
• Are there more no shows/cancellations than home
  visits?

10
Think outside the box (or home)

• Consider alternative locations for home visits
• Consider a playdate or community outing with
  another family in the program

11
Are you a stalker? Home visit dos and donts

• DO
• Arrive on time
• Ring the bell or knock twice
• Leave a home follow-up note

• DONT
• Overstay your welcome
• Peek in the windows!
• Should you call when they dont answer the door?

12
More dos and donts

• Okay, I lied more donts!
• Ask inappropriate questions
• Make comments about family lifestyle choices
• Offer unsolicited parenting advice
• Make comments or offer advice about matters
  outside the scope of the program

13
Wrapping it all up

• Link families with parent support groups,
  community resources, etc
• List all resources provided to parent on home
  visit sheet
• Review expectations/plan for what
  parent/caregiver should work on until next home
  visit
• Ask for feedback on session or if there are any
  questions?
• Confirm date, time, location of next visit
• Get parent signature on home visit sheet

14
Okay, I lied again I may need professional help!

• Review prior home visit sheet/request feedback
• Ask parent to demonstrate suggestions from
  previous visit
• Model exercise/activity with child
• Allow parent to practice with child/provide
  coaching
• Ask parent for feedback at end of session