1. These slides are optional home visit slides which can be added to the 2016 Ozanam Orientation. These additional slides are useful for Orientations where the participants don't have access to additional Home Visit training (for instance, isolated Conferences). If you use these slides, please lengthen the Orientation to accommodate the extra material. Slides adapted from the 2012 National Ozanam Orientation

2. Anatomy Of The Home Visit
Request For Assistance
Preparation
Home Visit -- Introduction Phase
Home Visit -- Problem Phase
Home Visit -- Action Phase
Exit/Closeout
Follow-Up
Request For Assistance
Preparation
Home Visit -- Introduction Phase
Home Visit-- Problem Phase
Home Visit -- Action Phase
Exit/Closeout
Follow-Up
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3. Request For Assistance
Receive Incoming Request For Assistance
Enter Information Into Conference Records
Contact And Assign Home Visit Team
Pass Intake Information And Previous Case Record To Home Visit Team (If Applicable)
Receive Incoming Request For Assistance
Could be a phone manned by a volunteer or staff member
Answering Machine
Voice Mail or Cell Phone
Note From Parish Office
Enter Information Into Conference Database
Paper
Electronic
Contact And Assign Home Visit Team
HV Team Always Two Persons Minimum
Preferably a Male and Female
Hesitate Assigning Two Males to Single Female
Pass Intake Information And Previous Case Record To Home Visit Team (If Applicable)
Paper file
On-Line Data Base
Via
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4. Preparation Review previous Case Records (if any)
Review current request for assistance
Have resources ready (e.g. vouchers, referral sheets)
Find a partner to join you on the visit
Contact “Those In Need” and schedule the Home Visit
Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Be on time or call if delayed
Get Case Record If “Those In Need” Have Been Visited Previously
Makes the interview go more quickly as you only need to verify the currency of the information
Gives you more time to spend on the other concerns “Those in Need” may have.
Review The Request for Assistance Information To Familiarize You And Your Partner With The Current Request For Assistance
Have resources ready The participants usually want to discuss and share available resources in their area. If there is a good referral sheet for your county or area, bring samples.
Contact “Those In Need” And Schedule Time For Home Visit
Home Visit Team Pray Before Visit
Prayer available in your Ozanam Orientation Participants Guide
Be on Time Or Call If Delayed
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5. Home Visit Skills Listen and Be Attentive to “Those In Need” Story
Be Non-Judgmental
Be Observant Of The Family
Be Observant Of The Surroundings
Listen and Be Attentive to “Those In Need” Story
Listen More Than Speak
Repeat Back Key Words Which the Client Used in the Story
Many People are Frustrated and Have Experienced Unsympathetic People
Remember That the People You are Visiting are Under Considerable Stress
Maintain Eye Contact to Show Client You are Interested
Be Non-Judgmental
Accept the Person as is
Lifestyle and Bad Choices May Impact Decisions About How to Help But Should Never Impair Our Vision of the Person as a Child of God – This Can be Difficult at Times
Be Observant Of The Family
Watch The Client’s Body Language
Does The Client Seem Reluctant to Share?
Is There Limited Eye Contact?
Are There Outward or Implied Signs of Domestic Abuse/Violence?
Be Observant Of The Surroundings
How Is The Client/Family Dressed?
Is There Furniture In The Home?
If You Can See The Kitchen, Look For Lack of Food
Does The House Seem Too Cold Or Hot?
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6. Home Visit - Introduction Phase
Introduce yourself and Team Partner As Members Of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul From ________________ Catholic Church
Explain You Are Here to Talk About Concerns And Needs And That You Are There To Help
Assure “Those In Need” of Confidentiality
Let “Those in Need” Talk First
Ask Questions Pertinent To The Overall Situation
Obtain Permission To Share Information Provided With Other Persons As Required To Get Assistance
Introduce Yourself And Team Partner As Members Of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul From ________________ Catholic Church
Remind yourselves you are guests in their homes.
Explain You Are Here to Talk About Concerns And Needs And That You Are There To Help
Assure “Those In Need” of Confidentiality
Let “Those in Need” Talk First
Typically you are able to get understanding of “Those in Need” family background, past situation, and values
Begin With Questions Pertinent To The Overall Situation
Advise that you will be asking questions about very personal information but only to the extent required to provide assistance
All information will be treated Confidentially
Generally identify the family size, ages, income, expenses, religious beliefs
Obtain Permission To Share Information Provided With Other Persons As Required To Get Assistance (In some cases may be necessary to have a signed release form)
Downloadable form available from website
We verify the information they have shared and it is very important that they share with us honestly
Helps us help them when we are reaching out to other agencies.
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7. Home Visit - Problem Phase
Ask questions Pertinent To The Problem Identified
Listen for Needs That Have Been Caused By “Systems” That Have Failed
Inquire As To What Actions Have Already Been Taken
Help “Those in Need” Focus On Their Needs And Determine The Most Immediate Ones Help Them Prioritize
Discuss Types Of Resources/Opportunities Available To Them
Ask Questions Pertinent To The Problem Identified
This helps to separate the emergency problems from the “Cause” portion of the problems
Summarize your understanding of their problem
Listen for Needs That Have Been Caused By “Systems” That Have Failed Such As:
Child support that is ordered but not collected
unemployment benefits that have not been delivered,
water shutoffs that are immediate in some neighborhoods but not in others
Inquire As To What Actions Have Already Been Taken
Have they asked for extension on their rent, utilities, etc.
Help “Those In Need” Focus On Their Needs And Determine The Most Immediate Ones --- Help Them Prioritize
Often they are overwhelmed with their situation and jump from one problem to another
Discuss Types Of Resources/Opportunities Available To Them
Use your Conference’s resource manual
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8. Home Visit - Action Phase
Jointly Develop An Action Plan
Identify Actions To Be Performed By “Those In Need”
Explain The Type Of Assistance You Are Able To Provide
Try To Create An Atmosphere Of Self Help
Set Up A Definite Time For Call Back
Jointly Develop An Action Plan
Address the near term emergency items
Long term recovery items will probably be delayed until a follow-up visit
Identify Actions To Be Performed By “Those In Need”
Without “Buy-In” by “Those In Need” you’re doomed to failure
Explain The Type Of Assistance You Are Able To Provide
May have to say you will have to meet with the Conference first before providing assistance
Even if you cannot provide a large amount of monetary assistance, you have provided friendship, support, love and concern.
Try To Create An Atmoshpere of Self Help
Keep From Enabling the “Those In Need”
Create an atmosphere of self help
Highlight what they have done to help themselves and encourage them to continue
What can you do for “Those In Need” who call constantly?
Set Up A Definite Time For Call Back
Be exact, don’t make them wonder or worry
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9. Exit / Closeout
Thank Them For The Opportunity To Meet With Them In Their Home
Thank them For The Opportunity To Meet Them And Allow You To Come Into Their Home
Treat them as courteously as you do your friends
Ask If They Would Like To Say A Short Prayer Together
An Extemporaneous Prayer mentioning the person in need’s problems
The Our Father
Or the “Prayer with Those in Need” in your Ozanam Orientation Guide
Typically Prayer with “Those in Need” come at the end of the visit, but remember prayer can happen at any point during a home visit. This allows us to respond to “Those in Need” in the moment when faith, hope or love is expressed.
Prayer During
Home Visit
Ask if they would like to pray together

10. Follow - Up Say a prayer following the home visit Complete your notes
Follow your Conference guidelines to authorize assistance
Update your conference records or database
Contact “Those In Need” as promised and let them know what will happen
Provide assistance to “Those In Need”
Advocate on their behalf as necessary
Say A Prayer following the Home Visit
An extemporaneous prayer mentioning “Those in Need” specifically
“Prayer following a Home Visit “in the Ozanam Orientation Guide
Document Your Visit
Enter Information Into The Conference Database
Coordinate With Conference As Required For Authorization Of Assistance
Contact Those In Need As Scheduled
Provide Assistance To Those In Need As Scheduled
Advocate On Those In Needs Behalf As Necessary
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