Why 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.
3. We find that we frequently understand our clients very differently after we have met them in person.  Normally we think of a tentative plan on the basis of records we receive.  Over half the time we the original plan goes out the window when we meet the young person.

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

© 1999-2005 Thomas J. Croke & Associates, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
For questions or comments regarding this website, email office@familylight.com