Understanding the Challenges in Assessing Young Children Gerard M. Kysela, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, The University of Alberta, and Clinical Director, The Family Centred Practices Group.

Principles of Family-centred Practice include families in decision-making, planning, assessment, and service delivery; include families in decision-making, planning, assessment, and service delivery; develop services for the whole family; develop services for the whole family; services are guided by families priorities; services are guided by families priorities; families have choice regarding the level of their participation. families have choice regarding the level of their participation.

Presentation Topics Resilience and Capacity Enhancement; Resilience and Capacity Enhancement; The Ecological Model; The Ecological Model; The Family Adaptation Model; The Family Adaptation Model; Family/Child Centred Assessment Practices. Family/Child Centred Assessment Practices.

Resilience Maintenance of positive adjustment under challenging life conditions A process (not a trait) Protective processes Risk processes Why use resilience? Shifts our consciousness from pathology to capacity Alerts us to the possibility that positive adjustment processes may differ by environment (challenging life conditions vs typical life conditions) Luther, S.S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3),

Protective Processes Individuals Families social competence reading skill sense of responsibility problem solving feelings of control plans for future optimism history of success history of + reinforcement seeks support detaches from conflict effective parenting attachment warmth and affection cohesive support structure within the family coping skills + expectations of members good partner relationships strong extended family extracurricular activities responsibilities outside the home Mangham, McGrath, Reid, & Stewart, 1994

Protective processes in communities mutual support mutual support collective expectation of success in meeting challenges collective expectation of success in meeting challenges high level of community participation high level of community participation organize cooperatively organize cooperatively volunteerism volunteerism egalitarian treatment of community members egalitarian treatment of community members optimism optimism empowerment (control over policy and programming) empowerment (control over policy and programming) Mangham, C., Reid, G., McGrath, P., & Stewart, M. (1994). Resiliency:Relevance to health promotion. Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. Health Promotion Directorate, Health Canada.

The Ecological Model of Development Microsystems - Daily Mesosystems - Family School Exosystems - Local Structures Macrosystems - Beliefs and Mores Proximal and Distal Influences Child Family School Day Care Friends Mesosystem Microsystems interactive Exosystem Macrosystem Dominant beliefs/mores Workplace School Board Industry Media

The Family Adaptation Model Beliefs Hassles & Uplifts Coping Skills Social Supports Family Adaptation

Family/Child Centred Assessment Practices Family-centered practices are based on the philosophy that a child’s abilities to learn and grow are intertwined with the strengths, needs, and philosophies of their parents and other family members Family-centered practices are based on the philosophy that a child’s abilities to learn and grow are intertwined with the strengths, needs, and philosophies of their parents and other family members Goal is to enhance the natural capacities of the family to identify needs/risks, mobilize skills, and set their own priorities for intervention. Goal is to enhance the natural capacities of the family to identify needs/risks, mobilize skills, and set their own priorities for intervention.

Common Practices in Family Centred Practices Inform parents of the purpose and intent of all assessment measures and procedures Inform parents of the purpose and intent of all assessment measures and procedures Accept direction from families regarding goals for their child, information and resources they need, and priorities they would like to see addressed Accept direction from families regarding goals for their child, information and resources they need, and priorities they would like to see addressed Provide a variety of supports that fit with various styles, strengths and preferences Provide a variety of supports that fit with various styles, strengths and preferences Use clear, jargon-free language as well as helping families become effective communicators Use clear, jargon-free language as well as helping families become effective communicators

Common Practices in Family Centred Practices Help families view the assessment and intervention process in a positive light Help families view the assessment and intervention process in a positive light Understand the family within their context and accommodate all individual differences Understand the family within their context and accommodate all individual differences Value, believe and respect all information that you receive from parents - keep it in the strictest confidence Value, believe and respect all information that you receive from parents - keep it in the strictest confidence Help families see similarities between themselves and their peers Help families see similarities between themselves and their peers

Practices One Tries To avoid Invading privacy Invading privacy Unfairly raising expectations of family members regarding treatment gains Unfairly raising expectations of family members regarding treatment gains Telling families what they NEED to do Telling families what they NEED to do Under-emphasizing the importance of team work Under-emphasizing the importance of team work Isolating the child as the client Isolating the child as the client