Training Parents to Partner The Family Academy

System of Care Principles and FoundationSystem of Care Principles and Foundation Parents as their own “Case Managers”.Parents as their own “Case Managers”. Parents as Partners in the Education system including IEP, 504 and Behavior planningParents as Partners in the Education system including IEP, 504 and Behavior planning Navigating the systemNavigating the system Strength Based PlanningStrength Based Planning Family CultureFamily Culture Communication, Mediation and Negotiation skillsCommunication, Mediation and Negotiation skills

System of Care Principles Child CenteredChild Centered Family FocusedFamily Focused CollaborativeCollaborative Culturally competentCulturally competent CoordinatedCoordinated Cost ResponsiveCost Responsive Community basedCommunity based Comprehensive and AccessibleComprehensive and Accessible

Key principle There should be an integrated, coordinated assessment across child-serving systems so that families do not have to undergo multiple assessment processes, retelling their stories repeatedly. In addition, system of care principles call for assessments to be comprehensive – encompassing an ecological perspective across life domains – individualized, and culturally appropriate.

Key Principles A key principle of systems of care is that screening, assessment, and evaluation be strengths and resources-based and not just “needs driven,” as is typically the case in traditional service delivery, and that they take into account both the child and his or her family’s strengths, resources, and needs.

Making Plans Fit the Family Multiple plans may conflictMultiple plans may conflict Too many goalsToo many goals Confusion about responsibilityConfusion about responsibility Using teams to make decisionsUsing teams to make decisions

Defining Cultural Relevance

Wheeeeeeuw?

 We believe that the family defines its own culture.  We believe that services should be child- centered, family-driven, strength-based.  We believe the family will define what appropriate interventions for the child or family should look like.  We want you to ask what is in the best interest of my child or my family?

Finding the Family Culture and Identifying Appropriate Interventions: What does this family bring to the table? What are the values, beliefs and strengths? What needs are unmet? How does this family see getting the needs met? (Brainstorming) What has worked in the past?

Defining Culture Competence : You bring with you your own history, your own values, your own ideas and your own interests.You bring with you your own history, your own values, your own ideas and your own interests. Failure to be aware of how this affects SERVICES may create conflict.Failure to be aware of how this affects SERVICES may create conflict. CONFLICT: a disagreement of ideas, or interests Noun. A battle; clash; a disagreement of ideas, or interests

Communication Also Mediation and Negotiation Skills

Communication requires skills ListeningListening SpeakingSpeaking ObservationObservation InterpretationInterpretation WritingWriting Emotional recognitionEmotional recognition Problem solvingProblem solving

New Frontiers for Families seeks to Empower Families to Succeed, through Education and Advocacy. Vision: Children with complex needs and their families living in rural and frontier Communities will have the services and supports needed to live at home in a mutually Beneficial relationship with other family members, progress through school, and Participate positively in their community.

Facilitator Data What is a Family Facilitator: A parent or caregiver who has navigated the system on behalf of a child and who acts as a cross agency coordinator who assists the family as a guide, i.e. They have navigated that trail….

Caregiver Report (n=154) About Family Facilitators/Advocates (FF/A) (FC &SW Sites) (FC &SW Sites) 84 % - Have had a Family Facilitator/Advocate (FF/A) at some time.84 % - Have had a Family Facilitator/Advocate (FF/A) at some time. 17 times - Average worked with FF/A in 6 month period.17 times - Average worked with FF/A in 6 month period. –36 minutes - Average time worked together each time. –10.7 hours per family - Average time worked with FF/A over 6 months. –87% - “It was just about the right amount of time” 61% - Had a Family Facilitator/Advocate that met their child’s need and/or the needs of their family (“Very well” or “Extremely well”)61% - Had a Family Facilitator/Advocate that met their child’s need and/or the needs of their family (“Very well” or “Extremely well”)

Kinds of assistance received by over 80% of families included: Encourages you to call when you need someone to listen to your family's issues. Organizes &/or attends Family Team wraparound meetings. Offers you [the caregiver] emotional support &/or suggestions to handle problems. Over two-thirds of caregivers rated as ‘Excellent” the following types of assistance : Helped you through a crisis. Encourages you to call when you need someone to listen to your family's issues. Arranges transportation or helps with vehicle.

n = 57 (staff having experience working with FF/A) 75% - when a FF/A is present, the meeting is more positive for families75% - when a FF/A is present, the meeting is more positive for families 72% - service have a more strength-based approach when a FF/A is involved72% - service have a more strength-based approach when a FF/A is involved 91% - service effectiveness is increased with the participation of FF/As91% - service effectiveness is increased with the participation of FF/As 82 % - FF/A made my job easier (to meeting the child and family’s needs)82 % - FF/A made my job easier (to meeting the child and family’s needs) 74% - “Partner” best describes the staff’s working relationship with FF/As74% - “Partner” best describes the staff’s working relationship with FF/As Agency Staff Report About FF/A (FC & SW Sites)