Preparing for a Home Study

The Home Study Checklist

A home study (or home visit) is when an evaluator, GAL, or caseworker visits your home to assess your living environment and observe your parenting. It's not about having a perfect home. It's about having a safe, stable, child-centered one.

Physical Home Preparation

[ ] Clean and tidy — not museum-clean, but lived-in clean. Vacuumed, dishes done, counters wiped, bathrooms clean
[ ] Child's space: Your child needs a designated area for sleeping, even if it's not their own bedroom. A bed (not a couch or air mattress), appropriate bedding, some personal items
[ ] Safety: Working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguisher accessible, medications and cleaning supplies out of children's reach
[ ] If young children: Age-appropriate childproofing — outlet covers, cabinet locks, gate on stairs if needed
[ ] Stocked kitchen: Food in the fridge and pantry (including child-friendly options). This gets checked.
[ ] Age-appropriate items visible: Books, toys, games, art supplies — things that show your home is a place for your children
[ ] Child's schoolwork or artwork displayed (naturally, not staged)
[ ] Working utilities: Heat, hot water, electricity all functioning
[ ] Functional bathroom accessible to the child
[ ] Adequate sleeping arrangements: If you have multiple children, each needs their own bed

Documentation to Have Ready

[ ] Your child's school records (report cards, communications)
[ ] Medical records or vaccination records
[ ] Your work schedule
[ ] Your current parenting time schedule
[ ] Photos of activities with your children (on your phone is fine — they may ask)
[ ] Emergency contact list on the fridge
[ ] Any certificates (parenting classes, anger management, etc.)

Questions the Evaluator Will Ask

Be prepared to answer:

Daily routine: What does a typical day with your children look like?
Discipline: How do you handle misbehavior? (Focus on positive discipline, natural consequences)
Co-parenting: How do you communicate with the other parent? How do you handle disagreements?
Child's needs: What are your child's strengths? Challenges? How do you support them?
Support system: Who helps you? Family, friends, community?
Future plans: Where do you see yourself in 1–2 years? Housing stability? Employment?
Child's relationship with each parent: How does the child relate to you? To the other parent?
Concerns: What concerns do you have about the other parent's home or parenting?

What NOT to Do

Don't stage a showroom: Evaluators see through over-preparation. They want to see a real home.
Don't coach your children: Never tell them what to say. Evaluators are trained to detect coaching, and it backfires.
Don't badmouth the other parent: Even if asked about concerns, stay factual. "I'm concerned about X because of Y specific thing I observed" — not "She's a terrible mother."
Don't be defensive: If they ask about an issue (substance use, mental health, past incidents), address it honestly and show what you've done about it.
Don't cancel or reschedule: Shows unreliability.
Don't have a new partner stay overnight during the evaluation period (unless they live with you — then include them naturally).

Day-of Tips

[ ] Have kids present if the evaluator requests it
[ ] Keep the visit natural — don't have a "special activity" planned
[ ] Offer a tour of the home (start with the child's space)
[ ] Have water or coffee available to offer
[ ] Turn off the TV
[ ] Put your phone away
[ ] If your child acts up, parent them naturally — evaluators want to see how you handle real moments
[ ] Be warm, not rehearsed

After the Visit

Follow up on anything the evaluator requested
Continue maintaining your home and routine
Don't contact the evaluator to ask how it went — they'll include it in their report

Next Steps

Walk through this checklist today
Address any safety items immediately
Make your child's space welcoming and personal
Practice answering the common questions out loud
Relax — a good evaluator sees through perfection. They want to see a good dad.