© 2000 Jordan Institute
for Families

Checklist for Facilitating Visits

Planning the visit Contact parents and arrange/confirm date, time, and location of visit Identify whether visit will be supervised or unsupervised and explain why Identify minimum parenting standard to be addressed and activity to occur pertinent to parenting standard Prepare or ask parent to prepare other siblings still at home for visit Arrange/confirm date, time, location of visit >24 hours before visit Arrange/confirm transportation arrangements Prepare or ask foster parent to prepare child for visit Conducting the visit Remind parent why visit is supervised; review visit progress Review purpose of visit and relevance of planned activity; specify what is expected of parents and children during activity Explain caseworker’s role in visit Ending the visit Briefly review overall progress in activity and its relevance to critical area Comment favorably on some aspect of child’s and parent’s performances Make suggestions for improvement as necessary Arrange/confirm date, time, status, and location of next visit Identify minimum parenting standard to address and activity for next week Record specifics of visit Source: Kessler & Greene, 1999, pp.160-161