Home Visits in a Violent World

Given the merits of home visitations, the social work commitment to community outreach, and the very real risks of harm posed by a violent society, there is a surprising lack of information on safe conduct of home visits. Clinicians often deny risks, behaving in ways that are incautious and reckless, thus placing them in further jeopardy. Newcomers to the profession are sometimes "shamed" by their superiors if they express fear. This paper examines the perceptions and experiences of home visiting, coupled with the lack of policy and training on the conduct of home visits. Ideas are presented to guide supervisors and agencies in their efforts to maximize their home visitor effectiveness, protect clinicians, and minimize liability. (C) 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.