Workshops/How To Work With Families

• Child Focus
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Foster Parent Training - Options For Youth
• Inclusion in Schools: Real and Perceived Views of Full Inclusion - Dark Ages? Bright Futures
• Infants and Toddlers in Your Care: How to Nurture 0-3 Year-Olds in Group Care and at Home
• Learning and Teaching Styles
• Preparing Personnel to Work With Parents and Families
• Reducing Stress in the Lives of Young Chlldren
• Sample Forms for Teachers
• Ask Dr. Susan

Professional Roles and Service Options

 

Job and Family Services - Foster Family Training

The ABC’s of Positive Parenting for Foster Parents

 

You have specific roles as an individual and as a team member or interagency group.

1. You are a EI professional.

 

• Share mutual pride in the child's abilities  with foster family
• Ask what parent wants to focus on.
• Avoid "one-way" decision-making, there are many ways to do most things!
   

2. You are both consultant and a consultee - not a judge.

Use the families' full participation every time.

Use consultative conversations, not mini lectures.

Avoid critical judgmental statements.

 

3. You are one expert, the parent is the other expert.

 

Be an expert skill-builder between agency, foster family, and parents

Be an expert conversationalist

Be an expert collaborator

 

4. You are a home-based service provider.

Assume parents have strengths, capacity to nurture
Use activities and concrete tasks to obtain cooperation and trust
Use your own successes:  as an experienced parent

                                                as a family member

                                               as a member of a group

5. Teach Jennifer to recognize herself as a "first" teacher.