Healthy Communication Advocating for Your Child
About us David Scott, MA, LAC, LPCC Stacy Scott, MEd Worked in Clinical Behavioral Health for 10 years Experienced in behavioral strategies for children Advocated for children with various agencies: schools, social services, juvenile court, etc. Stacy Scott, MEd Worked in Special Education for seven years Treatment foster parent for six years Advocated for children as a professional and parent
Our story Our Heart for Children Treatment Foster Care with PATH Our Adoption
The role of communication Extremely important in advocating for your child Both verbal and nonverbal How do you obtain what your child needs without angering all of your child’s providers?
Communication Elements Verbal vs. Nonverbal Communication Breakdown of the numbers (with a caveat) 55% is body language 38% is tone of voice 7% is actual words spoke (Mehrabian & Wiener, 1967 and Mehrabian & Ferris, 1967) Three C’s of Nonverbal Communication Context Clusters Congruence Mehrabian, Albert (1972). Nonverbal Communication. Chicago, IL: Aldine-Atherton. ISBN 0- 202-30966-5. Context: what environment is the situation taking place, history between the people, a person’s role in the situation (is there a power dynamic) Clusters: Seeing nonverbal cues as they work together, rather than focusing on one cue in isolation Congruence: Do spoken words, match the tone and body language? When someone says, “I’m fine” with slumped shoulders, a frown, and a soft tone, most likely they’re not fine.
Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal Cues to Consider Posture Gestures Facial Expressions Paraverbal Communication Inflection Pacing Pitch Tone
Communication Styles Passive Aggressive Passive Aggressive Assertive
Professionalism Advocating for your child is your JOB as a parent Conducting yourself as if you were at a work meeting is EXTREMELY important Imagine yourself in a courtroom. Would your behavior or the way you speak get you charged with contempt of court? If so, reassess and start over!
Hot buttons What really irks you? What gets under your skin? What about how someone communicates to you sets you off? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you be successful!
Responding Assertive, assertive, ASSERTIVE!!!! You can advocate for your child without embarrassing yourself and losing the respect of the professionals in the room.
Roadblocks When all of your attempts have failed, what do you do next? Know the Law! It is there to make sure your child gets what s/he needs Team up with another advocate DD case manager (if applicable) Other professionals involved in your child’s life (therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, SLP, OT, PT, etc.) Protection and Advocacy Lawyer up!
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