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

Work with parents as “Partners”

Guidelines for Practice

1. Parents should have the opportunity to be involved in all planning meetings related to children and their families.
2. Plan to give parents ideas that fit within the family's daily routine.
3. Families should be the ultimate decision-makers.
4. Written plans should be easy for families to understand, and flexible enough to allow for frequent changes.
    

Adapted from LA SICC Personnel Preparation Subcommittee, 1991

Personnel need to view their work with families as a partnership in which they are consultants, and families are in charge.

Adapted from : Bernard K. Equals in this partnership: Parents of disabled at-risk infants and toddlers speak to professionals. Arlington, VA: Zero to Three/National Center for Clinical Infant Programs

CHECKLIST

Do I really believe that parents are my equal and, in fact, are experts on their child?

Do I show the same respect for the value of parents' times as I do for my own time by educating myself about an individual child and observing each child's strengths?

Do I speak plainly to families and tell parents their child's good points?

Do I have conferences and make visits at times and places that are convenient for the family?

Do I share information with other teachers and professionals to insure that families do not expend unnecessary energy searching for assistance and services?

Adapted from Focal Point, (1987),2(2), Research and Training Center, Regional Research
Institute for Human Services, Portland State University
Personnel need to view their work with families as a partnership in which they are consultants, and families are in charge.

Adapted from:  Barnard, K.  Equals in this  partnership: Parents of disabled at-risk infants and toddlers speak to professionals.   Arlington, VA: Zero To Three / National Center for Clinical Infant Programs.