Involving Parents in Systems of Care. Presented by: Jammie Farish, Family Involvement coordinator with Clackamas County Community Health

FOCUS This session will focus primarily on: What is family inclusion? How do we involve/include families in our systems of care? How do schools get started? How do other systems get started? How do you sustain the Inclusion of families in your system?

Why are we here? Because we are all committed to changing how we serve children and families. We want to keep children at home in school and out of trouble..

How Do we do this? By working together, professionals, family members and community members are all collaborating together to make the lives of children better. Collaboration & a commitment to the inclusion of family members in all of the planning for their child.

How do we do this cont. By learning about other systems. By partnering across systems to improve outcomes for kids. By helping families navigate our complicated systems. By bringing families together. We need each other.

What is Family Inclusion What is Family Inclusion? Family Involvement and Family Inclusion, What’s the difference? Systems all around the country use both of these terms. The difference seems to depend on who is speaking. To families this means; they are present, actively participating, making treatment decisions and choosing services for their child.

“Not About us Without us”

Cont. Professionals see “involvement” as meaning that a family member was physically there, or they were communicated with about all the decisions made regarding their child. - a “really involved” parent may be seen as that parent who shows up to all the meetings that were scheduled without their input for time, and they seem “on board” with the information and decisions made by others.

Check all your assumptions at the door. First things first Check all your assumptions at the door.

Every family has their own unique culture. Every Family has unmet needs. The need to have a relationship with another family member who is like them. To be seen as the expert on their child. To be equally respected at the table. Basic needs; food, clothing, electric….. To be given opportunities to learn and grow.

Goal 1 Include Families as equal partners in management, planning and policy setting. You need family members as your partners in every aspect of your program.

How do Schools get Started? Having active parent participation in the PTA is nice, but….. Where can your parents connect and be valued as experts who live with these challenging children?

Schools cont. First of all you need to bring your parents together. They need each other! Provide opportunities for parents to get to know each other, this could be a social gathering initially in school. Bring in a local parent advocate, trainer, or community member who can talk about issues related to parenting these children. Conduct a focus group for your parents to gather information and identify natural parent leaders.

Schools cont. Partner with your counties parent leaders and bring Family Leadership Training into your schools. Listen to what families say they need and give them the tools to create it. Examples: support groups, organized social gatherings, parent 2 parent support or mentoring, newsletters, their own PTA Encourage families to learn more about areas of interest

Schools cont. Connect parent leaders with sustainable parent leadership, support and information. Parents will form partnerships across systems. Recognize the strengths you see in parents. Example: Who would be a great 1 on 1 mentor, who was born to start a group? Who has extensive knowledge of and area of interest? Share these strengths with your parents and encourage them to join you.

How do other Systems get Started? Infuse parents throughout your system. Parents should be on policy making boards, committees, councils, hiring boards, problem solving/or Quality improvement…… Identify key leaders to recruit and train families in your system.

Other Systems cont. Provide Parent to Parent training for families. This training should include: Family leadership Training Policy Training How to use their personal experiences for change Advocacy training ….

Tell Families this is their system! Other Systems cont. Tell Families this is their system!

Other Systems cont. Establish an infrastructure for decision makers to hear family voice, make changes and provide follow up to family members and partner agencies. Be sure there is an accessible person knowledgeable about how the system works, services and resources is always available to family members. Clarify the expectations that family members are full partners on their child’s treatment/case planning team. Celebrate staff who value family voice and whose practice is strength based

Building Trust is Key to any relationship, especially with families. Remember Building Trust is Key to any relationship, especially with families.

Remember Cont. Look for the strengths in the families you are working with now. Find your natural leaders and provide them with the training and supports needed to get started.

Remember Cont. Think about sustainability when growing family involvement/inclusion in your system. Who can provide training? Who is the community connection that will plug them into the bigger picture of family leaders in the state? What do they need to get started? Meet those needs; space, snacks, a place to prepare……..

Who is your local Family Leader? There are family leaders & advocates in every county! Find out who they are and get connected. Not Sure how to find them? Ask your Children’s State Advisory Council, Oregon Family Support Network or National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Jammie Farish jammiefar@co.clackamas.or.us 503-557-6441 Thank you Jammie Farish jammiefar@co.clackamas.or.us 503-557-6441