Effective Family-Centered Practice

Mastering Collaboration with Parents: Building Bridges for Effective Family-Centered Practice

As an occupational therapist, I have had the privilege of working with parents in effective family-centered practice in various contexts, including healthcare and education.

Throughout my career, I have learned the importance of collaboration with parents and the impact it can have on a child’s progress.

In this post, l will dive into the topic of mastering collaboration with parents and explore practical ways to build bridges and improve communication with parents for effective family-centered practice.

Family-Centered Practice: A Foundation for Collaboration

Family-centered practice, also known as family-centered care, operates under the assumption that the family knows best for their child.

It acknowledges that the attachment figure plays a critical role in a child’s development, and therefore, involves them actively in the therapy process. Family-centered practice promotes therapeutic follow-through, buy-in, retention, and home-based therapies that have significant long-term benefits for the child.

Assessments: Evaluating the Implementation of Family-Centered Practice

To ensure that family-centered practice ethics and standards are being met, assessments play a crucial role.

By evaluating key aspects of care services, such as enabling partnership, providing general and specific information about the child, coordinating and providing comprehensive care, and maintaining a respectful and supportive environment, we can gauge the effectiveness of our collaboration with parents.

The Intentional Relationship Model (Taylor, 2008): A Framework for Effective Communication

For professionals struggling with communication, the intentional relationship model by Taylor (2008) provides strategies for building effective relationships with parents. This model focuses on empathy, collaboration, and mutual understanding as the foundation for successful collaboration and partnership.

Real-Life Examples: Transforming Perspectives on Collaboration

Every professional has their own journey and experiences that shape their perspective on collaboration with parents. I would like to share with you my personal experience of working in a preschool with a family-centered therapy program.

This program aimed to provide tangible support for families and improve parent-child relationships through therapy sessions that involved both parents and children.

It was a transformative experience that changed my perspective on the importance of family-based practices.

The Future of Collaboration: Inclusion and Empowerment

Over the years, there has been a shift in recognizing the crucial role parents play in a child’s development. This shift has paved the way for the integration of family-centered care and improved collaboration with parents.

Looking ahead, it is important to acknowledge the challenges professionals face in keeping up with system changes.

However, innovative ideas such as family-centered therapy and home-based therapy offer long-term benefits for both the child and their parents.

In the next decade, I anticipate a shift towards inclusion in special education services, empowering parents to become active participants in their children’s education journey.

Building Bridges: Practical Strategies for Collaboration

Now, let’s explore some practical ways to build bridges and improve collaboration with parents in various settings. By incorporating these strategies into our practice, we can strengthen the partnership between professionals and parents, ultimately benefiting the child’s development and progress.

1. Parent Buy-In and Active Involvement: The Key to Success

• Emphasize the importance of parent buy-in and its impact on the child’s progress.
• Recognize different developmental paths and systems that children may encounter.
• Involve parents in-home programs for early intervention to ensure carryover of therapy activities.

2. Shifting the Dynamic: Setting Guidelines and Encouraging Active Participation

• Share personal experiences of trying to involve parents in therapy activities.
• Discuss challenges and variations in touch points with parents depending on the environment.
• Advocate for setting guidelines and being “bossy” with parents to shift the relationship dynamic and encourage active participation.

3. Practice Makes Perfect: Engaging Parents in Therapy Sessions and Beyond

• Highlight the importance of having parents practice skills during therapy sessions.
• Provide practical activities that parents can continue when the therapist is not present.
• Share the benefits of sending weekly plans or themes in advance to keep parents informed and engaged.

4. Visuals for Reinforcement: Enhancing Understanding and Learning

• Share the effectiveness of providing visuals, such as pictures or videos, of therapy activities.
• Discuss the role of visual aids in helping parents understand what is happening during therapy sessions.
• Explore ways to reinforce learning at home through the use of visuals.

5. Reports: A Balance of Information and Emotional Consideration

While reports are essential for documentation and communication, it’s important to consider the emotional side of parents and their relationship with their child. Reports should be presented in a way that honors their role as the expert on their child and provides valuable information in a supportive manner.

6. Embracing Technology: Digital Portals and Project-Based Learning

To connect professionals with parents in a digital age, the use of digital portals has become increasingly important. These platforms provide a space for ongoing communication, sharing of resources and activities, and collaboration between professionals and parents. Additionally, project-based learning is seen as an effective way to involve parents in their child’s education, fostering a team-oriented approach that extends beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Conclusion: Strengthening Collaboration for Holistic Development

As we conclude, I encourage all professionals and parents to embrace family-centered practice and work towards building stronger bridges of communication and collaboration.

By recognizing the expertise of parents and actively involving them in the therapy process, we can create an environment that supports the holistic development and well-being of every child.

Referenced Resources:

• Mara Cohen Podvey PhD OT & Jim Hinojosa PhD OT FAOTA (2009) Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool Special Education Services: Family-Centered Practice That Promotes Positive Outcomes, Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 2:2, 73-83, DOI: 10.1080/19411240903146111
• Bailey, D. B., Raspa, M., & Fox, L. C. (2012). What Is the Future of Family Outcomes and Family-Centered Services? Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 31(4), 216-223. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121411427077
• https://canchild.ca/system/tenon/assets/attachments/000/003/751/original/FCS_Sheet_18.pdf
• Liat Gafni-Lachter, Ayelet Ben-Sasson; Understanding and Enhancing Occupational Therapists’ Use of Standard Family-Centered Measures. Am J Occup Ther November/December 2022, Vol. 76(6), 7606205110. doi: Wolfe, Patricia. Brain matters: Translating research into classroom practice. ascd, 2010.
• Elena L. Bamm, Peter Rosenbaum, Family-Centered Theory: Origins, Development, Barriers, and Supports to Implementation in Rehabilitation Medicine, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 89, Issue 8, 2008, Pages 1618-1624, ISSN 0003-9993,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2007.12.034.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003999308003080)