Engaging Families in NH’s Part C Child and Family Outcomes Systems Presented by: Michelle Lewis (Parent, ICC Vice Chair) and Carolyn Stiles, Part C Program Coordinator

From the Beginning… NH was dedicated to multi-stakeholder input Families played a key role in all aspects of NH’s GSEG (the development of the family and child outcomes system) Found new ways to involve families Distance participation Informal mentoring Brief description of NH’s GSEG project and the commitment to multi-stakeholder input – Will focus on the fact that five family organizations were infused in all aspects of the project and successfully recruited many parents to participate – This was due in part to not only multiple methods of involving families but new ways. These included: Forums, surveys, on-line opportunities, distance participation and informal mentoring.

The commitment continued… Family led development of Child Outcomes Brochure Family members were co-trainers at the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) staff trainings Family members involved in reviewing and revising the family outcomes survey

State Decisions Support Family Involvement in the Outcomes System Child Outcomes: Child Outcomes Brochure given to all families so they are fully informed Families are given the option of being a part of the team that determines their children’s placement on the scale Programs are given the flexibility to complete COSF form in order to best meet the needs of the family

State Decisions Support Family Involvement in the Outcomes System Family Outcomes: A parent information sheet is given to parents with the family outcomes survey A “provider tip sheet” was developed to assist providers in introducing the survey to families Survey revised by multi-stakeholder group to make it easier for parents to understand

Challenges to the Success of the Outcomes Systems Helping programs understand the importance of collecting family and child outcome data Increasing response rate of family outcomes survey Providing on-going staff training on COSF Summary Form Using family outcomes data to target improvement activities

ICC Involvement in the Process Reviews and provides feedback on child outcomes data May become an advisory group to the family outcomes survey Role: Study the issue of survey return rate and make recommendations for improvement strategies

Continuing to Gain Family Input - Recommendations Use state parent organizations to get parent input Ask families what they think of the child outcomes process Do they understand the child outcome system? In what way did they participate in the process? How did the process feel? Use feedback from families to improve process Use families as co-trainers in staff orientation programs

For more information… Michelle Lewis – 603-224-7005 ext. 14 mlewis@parentinformationcenter.org Carolyn Stiles – 603-271-5122 cstiles@dhhs.state.nh.us