1. INCORPORATING FAMILY PREPARATION AND THE FAMILY APPROVAL DOCUMENT AN ESSENTIAL COMBINATION Charity Brallier and Georgiann Unger SWAN Programming Technical Assistants

2. Family Preparation and Family Approval Document A Method to the Madness!

3. Family Preparation and Family Approval Document Can’t have one without the other! Good families are developed, not discovered! Family Profile Process is key! Family Preparation / Education Information gathering Transfer of Learning Family Approval Document Communication Processing Info

4. Family Preparation and Family Approval Document Let’s define Preparation!

5. Exercise Break into groups Assign recorder and speaker List objectives or goals families should meet after Preparation

6. Goals for Adult Learners Increase self-awareness Acquire new skills Change behavior

7. Goals for Facilitating Good Preparation Know why learning is important Create supportive environment Provide information in different ways Teach by allowing them to do Allow them a chance to practice Give them feedback Praise

8. How do we accomplish our goals? Exercise Part 1 Break into pairs Person 1: Report information about how you chose to work in your current field (3 minutes) Person 2: Listen silently to person 1 Report out and discuss

9. How do we accomplish our goals? Exercise Part 2 Remain in same pairs Person 1: Report information about how you chose to work in your current field (3 minutes) Person 2: Ask questions, reflect and engage in report Discuss

10. How do we accomplish our goals? People remember: 10% of what they read 20% of what they hear 30% of what they see 70% when they talk it over with others 80% of what they use in real life 95% of what they teach

11. How do we accomplish our goals? Allow families to have concrete experience Reflect on experience Assimilate experience into conceptual framework Test and apply in different situations

12. Family Preparation and Profile Process Educational process Information is presented, gathered, discussed Life experiences are built upon Strengths and areas of potential vulnerability are explored

13. Family Preparation and Profile Process Transfer of learning occurs Collaborative relationships are defined, developed, strengthened Group discussion is encouraged Interviews, one-on-one discussions occur with family Information is integrated into documents

14. Critical Elements / Themes of Preparation How “system” works Who children are Child development Attachment & bonding

15. Critical Elements/ Themes of Preparation Grief and loss issues Who adoptive parents are Parenting skills Resources / Supports

16. Family Preparation and Family Approval Document Essential part of process meshes dynamic preparation given families and integrates it into Family Profile Document!

17. Family Preparation and Profile What is purpose of Family Profile?

18. Profiles should address 3 Major Issues Safety Nurturing Commitment

19. CORE issues of youth in out-of-home placement Grief and Loss Abandonment Identity Control Loyalty Attachment Shame

20. Statewide Unit of Service Reviews Findings Unclear information about training family received and their participation Lack of information about family’s growth during process Lack of documentation of transfer of learning Unsupported information

21. Statewide Unit of Service Reviews Findings Lack of information about family’s own life experiences re: CORE issues Lack of information about how child’s needs in home are currently met Unclear information about resources / supports

22. The Right Information Behavioral Interviewing Past predicts the future No unanswered questions No blanket statements

23. Traditional Vs. Behavioral Traditional Straightforward Theoretical Leading Behavioral Open ended Why?

24. Behavioral Interviewing Exercise Break into groups Complete worksheet Follow each section’s directions Group review and discussion

25. The Behavioral Interview Determine desired qualities Formulate questions Explore and follow up

26. Activity Assign a recorder and a reporter Each group will be given a position for which they need to hire In groups, determine desired qualities for the position In groups, formulate questions Report out to larger group

27. Let’s Look at the Model!

28. 3 Sections of Family Profile Waiting Families at-a-Glance Synopsis Family Approval Document

29. Let’s look at the Synopsis!

30. Family Profile Synopsis Synopsis and CY131 Acceptable behaviors / disabilities Family & agency assessments

31. Five Themes of Family Profile Family Preparation Information (Growth During Process) Attitudes toward Permanency (Motivation) Family Strengths (Coping / Problem-Solving Abilities)

32. Five Themes of Family Profile Home Environment / Community (Family Composition and Lifestyle) Resources (Ability to Use Resources)

33. Let’s move on... to Family Approval Document!

34. Attitudes toward Permanency

35. Family Strengths

36. Health Information

37. Clearances, References, Mandated Change of Status Statement, ACT 160

38. Home Environment

39. Community

40. Resources

41. Autobiography

42. Transfer of Learning Transferring knowledge and skills from one problem- solving situation to another

43. Transfer of Learning Low road Similar circumstances Mostly automatic Not much conscious effort High road Problem more removed Not automatic transfer Requires deliberate thought

44. Resource families mostly deal with high road transfer of learning It is not reflexive Transfer of Learning

45. Family Approval Document ( Exercise - Section V-XIII) Divide into smaller groups Each group assigned section All group members read section

46. Activity Assign a recorder and a reporter In groups, determine desired qualities of resource parents Formulate behavioral questions that demonstrate in assigned section how that resource family can provide safety, nurturing and commitment. Report out to larger group

47. Quality Family Profile Process-Critical Elements All 3 components of the Family Profile Model Useful, relevant preparation Transfer of Learning Behavioral Interviewing to substantiate information Family Profile demonstrates family can provide safety, nurturing, commitment to child

48. For More Information.. Charity Brallier and Georgiann Unger Programming Technical Assistants Diakon/FDR, Prime Contractor for the PA Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network cbrallier@diakon-swan.org gunger@diakon-swan.org