Beyond the Individualized Family Service Plan (I.F.S.P) Presented by Desirée Brown, Parent Coordinator DC Early Intervention Program & Salvador Hernandez, Parent Representative DC Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC)

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. Henry Ford (1863 – 1947) American Industrialist

Family Centered Services Family-Centered service is the philosophical tenet that must be internalized in early intervention. The practical application of this philosophy, once embraced, requires thought, ingenuity, experimentation and continuing re-evaluation. Making early intervention family-centered will not only enhance the likelihood of success, it will promote the importance of the family in all spheres of our society. From Working with Families in Early Intervention by James A. Blackman

What is Meaningful Family Involvement? Developing and Promoting opportunities for families to participate in the Early Intervention System at the level in which they feel comfortable

Partnership Cannot be faked ~ Be prepared to treat your partners concerns as equal in importance as your own Demands creativity ~ Find new ways in which to meet both parties needs Requires some compromise Demands commitment and consistency Requires flexibility Requires fairness

Let go of the titles…

Develop trust and mutual respect

Respect the Uniqueness of Each Family System Acknowledge and respect the family system which is heavily influenced by a familys cultural values and beliefs.

Communicate in culturally appropriate ways Do not assume a dominant role as a professional ~ in some cultures this may prove to be a source of tension and may result in family members withholding information. Do obtain translators and interpreters who are fluent in the familys primary language to explain or clarify information related to programs and services Maintain open and on-going communication w/families from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Use whatever method works (e.g. notebooks, oral exchanges and most importantly the method the family prefers)

Effective Communication Means sharing information so that each partner is equipped to manage appropriately for everyones mutual benefit

Working w/Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Families Requires a system that supports the development of these relationships. A variety of interrelated issues and personal characteristics influence the development of relationships between professionals and those they serve including family structure, age, length of time since immigration and cultural expectations about services and outcomes

What DC has in place Family Support Group meetings Annual Toy Give Away Comprehensive System of Personnel Development Program Monitoring Parent – to – Parent networking Interagency Coordinating Council Early Intervention/Early Childhood Training Institute Family Satisfaction Survey Service Coordination Pilot Project Transition Orientation Provider Orientation

Whats Next? Family Orientation to EI system Families as Mediators Quarterly satisfaction surveys

Did I paint a rosy picture? Barriers we faced Understanding what cultural and linguistic competency is all about Did we really develop our monitoring tool without a parents input? How in the world did those first family support group meetings occur without disaster? Yo Habla Espanol? What were parents interested in doing anyway? Why didnt Spanish speaking families show up to the meetings and dont we serve any Caucasian folk? Do families trust us?

I think I know what Im talking about… But lets hear from Mr. Salvador Hernandez who has graciously taken the time to be here today. His input as a parent, advocate and cultural background are an invaluable resource.

Do you like being a parent – you know, being a father, having children and all? Linnet once asked me. Yes, I said, after a moment. Its like dancing with a partner. It takes a lot of effort to do it well. But when its done well its a beautiful thing to see. Gerald Early U.S. Writer, Specialist in African American Studies

Come Away with Me…

Mount Everest is so huge, it takes a whole group to climb it. ~Sam, Age Seven, Whose Sister is Medically Fragile

Raising a child who needs significant levels of support is an extraordinary task.

It may take the family plus a whole group of other people to do It: a school team, a case manager, a medical team or a squad of personal care attendants.

We may have a child whos needs are so complex and significant that many groups are required

Working with teams of people requires attention, energy and management skills far beyond the norm.

Most of us have added these to our usual parenting tasks without thinking much about them because we had to, and have become so used to the extraordinary job we are doing that we take it for granted.

Today, I will take time out to be conscious that I am climbing Mount Everest.

I will remember that I need and deserve nourishment, rest and periods of relief in order to stay the course.

I will also remember that I cannot do the job alone. ~Sams mom

A Journey thru Early Intervention

This was brought to you by the DC Early Intervention Program Staff in all of their shining glory and just a few of the families they serve…

The dedication and commitment of a few, affect changes for the many

Got questions? We certainly dont have all the answers but are willing to share as much as we can… Dont hesitate to share whats happening with you and/or your state… The District of Columbia is not a state. Repeat, the District of Columbia is not a state.

Thank you!!! We appreciate your taking the time to attend our session.