Home Visit Expectations
Thank you for welcoming me into your home to provide Early Intervention services! I look forward
to working with you and your child!
Appointments:
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Typically, we schedule our next appointment at the end of each visit.
If you need to change the chosen day/time, please call as soon as possible.
I will try to be on time within ten minutes of the set time; I will call if more than 10
minutes late.
Please keep in mind when scheduling other appointments that your KOTM appointment
may need to be cut short or you may need to be late to yours depending on the timing of
travel etc.
The length of our visit is written on your child’s service plan (usually 45 minutes). I will give you your full
length of service, unless YOU need to make the visit shorter.
If an appointment is cancelled due to MY reasons (I am sick, have a schedule change, etc.), I will make
every effort to make up the appointment at a different day/time.
If an appointment is cancelled due to YOUR reasons and you call me by 9:00 a.m. on day of appointment
(earlier if possible), I will TRY IF POSSIBLE to schedule a make-up appointment during the month
If I come to your home for a scheduled appointment, and you are not there (“no show”), I am not obligated
to reschedule the appointment.
We cannot keep a home visit without the parent, unless there is a responsible adult present who the parent
has arranged to participate in his/her place at the home visit.
Why do you make home visits?
Most parents like home visits because they are convenient. While that is one important reason to bring services
into your home, there are other reasons that are just as important:
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Seeing a child in his/her natural environment gives a more accurate picture of the child’s development.
Families often feel more comfortable and “in charge” in their own home. We hope that this helps you
share honestly with us your goals for your child and family, and if services are meeting your needs.
Our purpose is to help you fit activities that will help your child develop into the flow of your daily life.
Being in the home helps us do that more effectively.
Having the visit at home makes it possible to include other family members as you see fit.
The major purpose of a Home Visit is to help the parent learn strategies that will promote their child’s
development, and to offer resources and support the family might need to meet challenges they face.
What happens at a home visit?
A home visit usually includes these
components.
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A brief chat about how things have been going since our last visit, including any
new concerns or needs you or your family may have.
Information and activities to help you on one or more of your IFSP goals.
However, we can focus the visit on other things if you have the need.
The most important part of the visit is when YOU play with your child. You can
show me the wonderful things your child is accomplishing, and some things that
aren’t working well, I can help you figure out some ideas to bring more success.
Usually, I will play with your child to try a new strategy to see if it works, or to
demonstrate a strategy to you.
I will be observing your child’s development as we play. Sometimes, I may fill out a developmental test on
your child.
We will talk about what you would like to work on at our next visit. I might make some suggestions as
well! We will review these and you will be given a copy of them that day.
How are these visits different from outpatient therapy services?
For outpatient services, the family usually travels to the clinic, there is not as much emphasis on parent
training, and the focus is only on the child’s development, not the family as a whole. Early intervention services
focus on parent training so the child is surrounded day-in and day-out with interactions that will help him grow and
learn appropriately. Our services should also help you address broader family issues, if needed. If you are
interested in accessing outpatient therapy, please ask to see the KOTM handout entitled “Does My Child Need More
Therapy?”
When to Cancel Due to Illness
Many of the children we serve have fragile health. Before and after your home visit, I
often have appointments with other children. Since I do not want to spread illness from one
household to another (or get sick myself), I follow KOTM’s policy to reschedule a visit when a
child or family member is ill. Please call to reschedule if your child or a family member have
the following:
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green, runny nose due to flu or cold
A fever
A persistent cough
Vomiting or diarrhea
Bacterial infection, such as strep throat, pink-eye (conjunctivitis) etc.
Any easily spread disease, such as impetigo, chicken pox, whooping cough, measles, mumps, etc.
Head Lice or scabies
Pinworm or ringworm, until 24 hours after treatment has begun
If your child breaks out with a contagious illness (such as Chicken Pox) shortly after my home visit, please notify
me immediately so I can take precautionary steps, if appropriate.
I will also follow these same guidelines, and not visit your home if I am ill. Feel free to call me if you are unsure if
you should cancel due to illness. Thank you for being considerate in this regard!
You can contact me in the following ways:
Name:
Program phone:
Email:
Program Address:
If you have any questions regarding policies and procedures, please feel free to contact me or another
team member. You can also refer to the Baby Binder which you previously received.