Debra Holloway The Arc of Virginia Director of Training and Technical Assistance A Parent’s Perspective on Family Centered Practices.

Debra Holloway

The Arc of Virginia

Director of Training and Technical Assistance

A Parent’s Perspective on

Family Centered Practices

Today We Will Cover

Introduction – me and you

Family Centered Practices

Strategies to Operationalize

Video – “Embrace Possibilities”

Discussion

Q &A

Reflections/Continuous Improvement

Oldest Human Rights Organization for

People with Developmental Disabilities

• 25 local chapters in the Commonwealth

• Non-profit

• Promote and protect human rights

• Support full inclusion

Advocacy

Early Intervention Family Support Network.

Early Intervention Advocacy

Information and Referral

Parent

What is Your Role?

Early Intervention

Early Childhood Education

Head Start

Parent

Paraprofessionals

Supervisors

Family Centered Practices

Emphasis on strengths

Promoting family choice and control over desired resources

Development of collaborative relationship between parents and professionals.

ESPE-SHERWINDT

Does it Make a Difference?

Research has tied the use of Family Centered Practice to positive child and family outcomes.

-Parent Satisfaction

-Sense of Control

-Family Well-being

-Family competence and confidence

All of these significantly impact a child’s development

Efficacy of Family Centered Practices

This Happens across diverse

Settings and programs

Types of families, including those with parent’s with Intellectual Disabilities

Economic background

MARILYN ESPE-SHERWINDT

Easier Said Than Done!

Time

Inclination

Training

Federal and State Rules and Regulations

Communication

Building Relationships-Active listening-Empathy-Caring/Warmth-Trust

Not Enough!

Professionals are Often Less Family-Centered

Than They Think

“Families become the ultimate decision makers and agents of change”

Dunst, 2002

Strategies to Operationalize

Families understanding the service and their role

Families and the grief cycle

Honoring ethnic, cultural and socio-economic diversity

Families – strengths and coping skills

What Am I Doing Here?

Leadership and Advocacy

Consultant

Professionals adopting a family-centered model are asked to replace the role of decision-maker, agenda-setter, advice-prescriber and expert with the more challenging role of partner, listener, facilitator and consultant (Mikus, Benn and Weatherston, 1994).

Giving complete unbiased information

Do not focus on compliance – shared purpose

Resist giving prescriptive advice

Do not give up when faced with hostility, indifference or rejection

Accepting shades of grey

Pay attention to the only behaviors you can control – your own

Embrace Possibilities

SpecialQuest Multimedia Training Library

Questions

Discussion

Continuous Improvement

Family-centered practice: collaboration, competency and evidence

MARILYN ESPE-SHERWINDT

Debra Holloway

The Arc of Virginia

Director of Training and Technical Assistance

[email protected]

804-649-8481 ext. 103