A Parent’s Perspective on Family Centered Practices

1. A Parent’s Perspective on Family Centered Practices Debra Holloway The Arc of Virginia Director of Training and Technical Assistance

2. Today We Will Cover • Introduction – me and you • Family Centered Practices • Strategies to Operationalize • Video – “Embrace Possibilities” • Discussion • Q &A • Reflections/Continuous Improvement

3. Oldest Human Rights Organization for People with Developmental Disabilities 25 local chapters in the Commonwealth Non-profit Promote and protect human rights Support full inclusion

5. Advocacy Early Intervention Family Support Network. Early Intervention Advocacy Information and Referral

6. Parent

7. What is Your Role? Early Intervention Early Childhood Education Head Start Parent Paraprofessionals Supervisors

8. Family Centered Practices • Emphasis on strengths • Promoting family choice and control over desired resources • Development of collaborative relationship between parents and professionals. ESPE-SHERWINDT

9. Does it Make a Difference? • Research has tied the use of Family Centered Practice to positive child and family outcomes. -Parent Satisfaction -Sense of Control -Family Well-being -Family competence and confidence All of these significantly impact a child’s development

10. Efficacy of Family Centered Practices • This Happens across diverse Settings and programs Types of families, including those with parent’s with Intellectual Disabilities Economic background MARILYN ESPE-SHERWINDT

11. Easier Said Than Done! • Time • Inclination • Training • Federal and State Rules and Regulations

12. Communication • Building Relationships -Active listening -Empathy -Caring/Warmth -Trust Not Enough!

13. Professionals are Often Less Family-Centered Than They Think • “Families become the ultimate decision makers and agents of change” Dunst, 2002

14. Strategies to Operationalize • Families understanding the service and their role • Families and the grief cycle • Honoring ethnic, cultural and socio-economic diversity • Families – strengths and coping skills

15. What Am I Doing Here? Leadership and Advocacy

16. Consultant • Professionals adopting a family-centered model are asked to replace the role of decision-maker, agenda-setter, advice-prescriber and expert with the more challenging role of partner, listener, facilitator and consultant (Mikus, Benn and Weatherston, 1994).

17. Giving complete unbiased information • Do not focus on compliance – shared purpose • Resist giving prescriptive advice • Do not give up when faced with hostility, indifference or rejection • Accepting shades of grey • Pay attention to the only behaviors you can control – your own

18. Embrace Possibilities SpecialQuest Multimedia Training Library

19. Questions • Discussion • Continuous Improvement Family-centered practice: collaboration, competency and evidence MARILYN ESPE-SHERWINDT Debra Holloway The Arc of Virginia Director of Training and Technical Assistance dholloway@thearcofva.org 804-649-8481 ext. 103