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833 Chapter 4:Working with families • Section 11: Home visits (07/2026) Home visits Introduction Home visits are an important tool in working with families. They can be helpful with engaging participants in their plan, developing relationships in an environment where the individual feels most comfortable and delivering important information regarding benefits. Although the concept of home visits implies the contact must happen in the participant’s home, this is not always the case. These visits may occur in a public setting, such as a park, library or coffee shop. They may also take place in a shelter, school or other partner’s location. The goal is to meet the family or individual where they are comfortable and where it is convenient. Home visits as a tool There are many reasons for conducting a home visit. Some of the most common include: • To make contact and relationship building convenient for participants • To meet the safety needs of individuals who do not feel safe coming into the office • To accommodate a medical or mental health condition. Family coaches and engagement specialists should not use home visits to conduct an investigation but rather as a tool to engage with families. Meeting a family in a comfortable and safe environment may lead to more open conversations and allow individuals to better identify: • Their strengths that make change possible • Barriers that may be standing in the way of change • Possible resources and supports that will lead to better outcomes. Appropriate home visits Although there is general guidance around home visits provided by Central Office and the Self-Sufficiency Training Unit, many local offices or districts have developed more specific procedures. It is important that staff follow local processes for conducting and tracking home visits. In most situations, home visits should be planned and scheduled in advance. Staff should have a specific goal in mind when scheduling the home visit. Identifying the purpose of the home visits allows staff to better plan for the engagement opportunity. Some questions to ask may include: • Why is the home visit needed? The answer to this question will vary depending on your position and the reason for the home visit. • What are the benefits to the family? Is there any way to help the individual look forward to the home visit? Whenever possible, the home visit should benefit the family by either providing resources or information, eliminating the need for the individual to come into the office, or creating a safe space to share personal information.