Home visits are becoming an important part of family education and support programs such as Even Start. Over time, the objectives of home visits have shifted from a deficit model, which was aimed solely at solving problems, to an empowerment model, which focuses on ameliorating conditions which lead to familial problems. The empowerment model builds on family strengths, helps families define goals and make decisions, and provides access to needed resources. Home visits give practitioners a holistic view of: (1) the child's environment; (2) family dynamics; (3) the family's unmet needs; and (4) parenting styles. Visits also facilitate parent-program cooperation and deepen the parent-practitioner relationship. Visits also facilitate communication and show children that their parents are respected by others. Some goals of home visits should be: (1) to build mutual trust; (2) to assess, acknowledge, and build on family strengths; and (3) to provide guidance on designing a home environment that facilitates child development and helps parents achieve their goals. The first visit is an important step in achieving these goals, and subsequent visits should have instructional value and build parent-program rapport. Includes a list of resources. Contains 17 references. (JW)