Shared Leadership: Engaging Family Voices to Strengthen Families Presented by: Diana Autin, SPAN Kathy Roe, Parents Anonymous Sh’corah Yehudah, SPAN On behalf of the Prevention Subcommittee of the NJ Task Force on Child Abuse & Neglect ©Statewide Parent Advocacy Network 2005

Goals & Objectives Assess readiness/gauge knowledge, skills and commitment to partner with families in prevention through shared leadership Review family support & parent leadership theory & strategies Provide opportunities to implement/practice effective strategies in family partnership

Introductions State your name and role within DPCP Identify one thing you would like to learn/get out of your participation today

Experiences with Parent Leadership Work in groups of 5 Discuss 3 positive & 3 negative experiences you have had to date in seeking to recruit and work with families Capture on flip chart

Spectrum of Prevention Level 1: Strengthening individual knowledge & skills Level 2: Promoting community education Level 3: Educating Providers Level 4: Fostering coalitions & networks Level 5: Changing organizational practices Level 6: Influencing policy & legislation

Level 1: Strengthening individual knowledge & skills Enhancing individual capability to prevent harm and promote wellness

Level 2: Promoting Community Education Reaching groups of people with information & resources to promote health & safety and minimize harm

Level 3: Educating Providers Informing providers who will transmit skills & knowledge to others

Level 4: Fostering Coalitions & Networks Convening groups & individuals for broader goals & greater impact

Level 5: Changing organizational practices Adopting regulations & shaping norms to improve outcomes

Level 6: Influencing Policy & legislation Developing strategies to change laws & policies to influence outcomes

Examples of Spectrum Levels Brainstorm one example of each level: Individual capacity-building Promoting community education Educating providers Fostering coalitions & networks Changing organizational practices Influencing policy & legislation

What is Family Support? A set of beliefs & an approach to strengthening & empowering families & communities Grassroots, community-based programs designed to promote family cohesion & prevent family problems A shift in service delivery A movement for social change

How does family support work? Interventions are comprehensive and within the context of the family and the community Interventions promote positive behaviors & outcomes, instead of just treating problems

How does family support work? Interventions focus on family-identified needs & hopes, not the wishes of professionals Interventions see the family as a part of its larger community

How does family support work? Interventions help strengthen the family’s networks and use those networks as the major source of support

What is the goal of family support? To help families learn and use the knowledge and skills they need to be effective as a family within their community

How can you tell if it’s family support? Relationships are built on equality & respect Families learn how to get what they need Families are involved at every step of the way Family strengths are recognized and built on

How can you tell if it’s family support? The diversity and cultural, racial, and language identities of families are celebrated & affirmed Communities are strengthened There is advocacy for fair, responsive & accountable systems

BELIEFS: Family-Professional Partnership Families & professionals work together in relationships based on equality & mutual respect Families are partners on the individual, program, agency, & systemic levels

Family-Professional Partnership Important techniques: Active listening Empathy Sincere caring Recognition & appreciation of existing knowledge & skills Focus on strengthening knowledge & skills Shared decision-making

BELIEFS: Empowering & Strengths-Based Build on the knowledge & skills of families & communities Help families realize their own strengths to promote the healthy development of their children

Empowering & Strengths-Based Recognize that everyone has strengths Create opportunities for learning & use of new skills & knowledge Support self-efficacy, self-reliance, positive mental health, competency, mastery of skills: “assets-building”

Who is a parent leader? Committed to making positive changes in his/her family, community, &/or system Represents a parent voice, not a staff role

Shared leadership is important because: Multiple perspectives & diverse strengths and talents are combined to achieve goals Families know how systems really work “on the ground”

We learn leadership in many ways Learn from others who serve as role models Learn from formal training “Just do it”

Practices of Exemplary Leadership I. Challenging the process II. Inspiring a shared vision III. Enabling others to act IV. Modeling the Way V. Encouraging the heart In pairs, answer “I acted this way when I…”

Why do parents get involved? They believe the issue is important to them and their family They believe they have something to contribute They believe that they will be listened to and their contributions respected They believe that their participation will make a difference

How do parents stay involved? Multiple opportunities for participation, from a small contribution of time to progressively larger contributions of time and effort The level of participation varies depending on life circumstances.

How do parents stay involved? Families receive sufficient advance notice Family participation is facilitated: Child care Transportation Dinner Compensation for time Education & information in understandable language & formats Mentoring/pairing with experienced family member

How do families stay involved? Families are listened to; their ideas are supported & respected Families do not experience retribution as a result of their participation Family participation has an impact Family participation is consciously & visibly appreciated

Pathways to Parent Leadership Critical supports: Contact with other parents in leadership roles Opportunities to take on leadership roles, however small, & safe settings to practice them Relationship with respected & trusted person who provides feedback & support Sense of belonging

Ten Steps to Success Commitment leading to participation, growth & change A sense of belonging Exposure to other parents who demonstrate leadership behaviors & are acknowledged as leaders Recognition of the need to take action Encouragement from others who view the parent as a leader

Ten Steps to Success Taking action Receiving positive feedback & support from trusted others who “mirror back” the strengths & leadership skills displayed in earlier actions Continuing to take action & receive supportive feedback Growing stronger & more confident as a leader Becoming a role model for other parents

Primary Supports needed Tangible (stipends, provision of or reimbursement for childcare and transportation and reimbursement for lost wages). Tangible supports allow parents to fully participate in parent leadership activities, without creating an economic burden on them.

Primary Supports needed Emotional (respect, understanding, validation, and ongoing support to fulfill their parent leadership roles, including times of transition and crisis). Emotional supports provide parent leaders with the encouragement they need to feel confident in their new parent leadership roles and to know that others will be there for them as they grow through these experiences

Primary Supports needed Environmental (training, equality with service providers, and full inclusion in activities. Environmental supports give parent leaders the tools and skills to achieve shared leadership through training in effective public speaking, media interviews, and co-training with staff which emphasize the full equality and inclusion of parent leaders in agency and organizational settings and activities.

Roles for parent leaders What roles are available or might be created for parent leaders in New Jersey’s child welfare system change? At the prevention program level At the community level At the county level At the state level

Roles for parent leaders Role model for other parents Co-trainers Contributor to materials Participant at conferences, meeting Paid consultant Grant reviewer Participant in evaluation & quality improvement activities

Roles for parent leaders Participant in needs/strengths assessment processes Advocate for individuals, families, programs, system change Participant in focus groups Advisory Board or Board member Witness at public hearings Public speaker Media interviewee/spokesperson

Working together in shared leadership Think of a time when you had a successful partnership to accomplish your goals… What did you bring to the partnership? What did your partner bring? How did you know it was working?

Essential Elements of shared leadership Mutual respect for skills & knowledge Mutually agreed upon goals Trust & honesty Clear & open communication Shared planning & decision-making

Essential Elements of shared leadership Shared resources Mutual sharing of information Shared evaluation of progress Commitment to shared leadership Other elements?

Benefits of shared leadership Benefits to: Parent leaders Staff Families Agencies Larger society Others

Why can’t we get “the parents?”

Barriers to shared leadership Possible barriers Lack of time Lack of funds Difficulties in creating roles Language, literacy, knowledge barriers Work status of parent leaders

Am I ready for shared leadership? Do I really want to work in a shared leadership model? Will my supervisor support me? What policies and practices will be a problem? What costs will be involved and how will I pay for them? How does this fit my approach to working with parents now?

Am I ready for shared leadership? How much time am I willing to commit? What other help do I need? What other tools and information do I need? Is there anything else I should think about?

Are we ready for shared leadership? How will we work in partnership with parent leaders to further our mission? What successes have we had in working with parent leaders? What policies & practices will support our work with parent leaders?

Are we ready for shared leadership? What will it cost? What resources will we commit? What are opportunities to engage parent leaders at: Community County State/systems level

Are we ready for shared leadership? How will the Department, governor’s office, Child Welfare Panel, legislature support our work with parent leaders? What specific staff will be assigned to support parent leaders? What else should we think about/plan for?

Parents’ Panel Be thinking about: How was this parent engaged? At what level(s)? What was the impact of their engagement on their family? On other families? On the program? How does this related to family support standards?

Overcoming the Barriers: Recruiting, Selecting, Supporting Brainstorm places where Parent leaders might be recruited

Recruitment Prevention programs Parents Anonymous SPAN Head Start Policy Councils Community-based organizations PTA Churches, temples, mosques Mental health, DD Councils Other

Recruitment Strategies Brainstorm strategies that might be useful in recruiting parents to work in Shared leadership roles

Recruitment Strategies Word of mouth Media stories Referrals from staff in public & private agencies, schools, clinics Radio/TV PSAs Letters to editor Articles in community, agency newsletters Bulletin boards

Recruitment Strategies Role descriptions: Specific tasks & expectations Critical expertise & experience Available supports from staff & other parent leaders Amount of time required How expenses will be reimbursed

Selecting Parent Leaders What things should you consider in identifying parents to serve as parent leaders?

Possible Selection Criteria Currently in a parenting role Experience as a program participant Ability to relate to other parents Can relate personal experiences to broader social issues Ability to participate Reflect the ethnic, cultural, gender, religious diversity

Providing Support What tangible, emotional, & environmental supports can you provide initially and/or on an ongoing basis to parent leaders?

Examples of Support Child care Transportation Reimbursement for lost wages Information re: issues, systems, policies, practices, personnel so can participate from a fully formed perspective Training Clear information on responsibilities & decision-making authority

Creating an Action Plan Objectives Action Steps Who’s responsible Resources/Supports needed Target Completion Date How will we know it’s been achieved? Date achieved

EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Collaboration with Families & Communities Advisory groups, collaborations, & input foster family & community involvement Families & communities are involved in all program activities: planning, governance, administration, & evaluation

EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION: Collaboration with Families & Communities The engagement & support of families & communities is key to sustaining & funding family support programs Participation ideas: Focus groups Family/community surveys Follow-up questionnaires Advisory groups Participation of families & community representatives on boards of directors

Family Strengthening & Support: Critical for Child Welfare The most effective way to keep our children safe & healthy is to ensure that their families are strong from the start. The most effective intervention is promotion & prevention. The best way to ensure policies, procedures & programs that work is to engage families from the beginning!