What about Dads? Joseph Anderson & John Hoffman

Welcome What about Dads is a conversation about two fathers unique perspective on what inclusion has meant for their families: Its Rewards, Challenges Hopes and Expectations In the early intervention system, home and community.

What about Dads? Plus an opportunity to talk about the cultural aspects of recognizing the importance of fathers and the roles that they play within the family structure.

“The Quotable Dad” On Becoming a Father If you ever become a father, I think the strangest and strongest sensation of your life will be hearing for the first time the thin cry of your child. -LAFCADIO HEARN-

A Hard Profession Like any father, I have moments when I wonder whether I belong to the children or they belong to me. -Bob Hope Insanity is hereditary; you can get it from your children. -Sam Levenson-

Ground Rules Normal is only a cycle on a washing machine

Our Stories The beginning Birth’s and Diagnosis Medical response to our families (positive/negative) What was helpful or not. Expectations Obstacles Daddy’s transition: perception/stereotyping

This is how I started my journey into the world

Love my smile?

Partnership The Love of a Father and child..

Love My Smile?

Family Centered supports and services All people need support and encouragement. All families have hopes, dreams and wishes for their children. All people have different but equally important skills, abilities and knowledge (strengths). Families are resourceful, but all families do not have equal access to resources. Families should be assisted in ways that help them maintain their dignity and hope. Families should be equal partners in the relationships with service providers. Providers work for families Lynda Cook Pletcher and Sue McBride 1998

Natural Environment!

What about Natural Environments Natural Learning Opportunities Participation in families everyday activities, places and relationships IFSP as an going FAMILY document Integrated supports and services

Location Activity Opportunities Adapted from Carol Trivette 1998

Location Activity Opportunity What is the Natural Learning Opportunity?

What is inclusion to me? Natural environment/Least Restrictive environment Community Involvement Community is a network of different people who come together on a regular basis to do something in common. Concepts and Struggles Is reverse Mainstreaming the Best we can do?

Philosophy of Culture We must first understand our own culture, and the values and beliefs we have about others we see as different from ourselves. All families and individuals are unique – influenced, but not defined, by culture. Families and professionals must work together to find common ground in order to design services that meet the needs of children and show respect for families. Professional and parent partnerships are vital to increasing cultural competencies. Professionals have a responsibility for helping families to understand/interpret programs and services so that they can better advocate for their children.

Culture Culture refers to a system of values, beliefs, attitudes, traditions and standards of behavior that govern the organization of people into social groups and regulate both group and individual behavior. Culture is created by groups of individuals to assure the survival and well- being of group members. Culture is learned and is more complex than either ethnicity or race. Institute for Human Services, Revised 2001

A model for Developing Cultural Sensitivity DENIAL DEFENSE MINIMIZATION ACCEPTANCE ADAPTATION INTEGRATION

As a culturally competent individual, I am capable of interacting positively with people who do NOT look like, talk like, think like, believe like, act like, live like... ME!!! Source: Multnomah County Department of Health. Developed by the NCCC, 2002

The Community of Man “All men “women” are interdependent. Every nation is an heir of a vast treasury of ideas and labor to which both the living and the dead of all nations have contributed. Whether we realize it or not, each of us lives eternally ‘in the red.’ We are everlasting debtors to known and unknown men and women. When we arise in the morning, we go to the bathroom where we reach for a sponge which is provided for us by a Pacific islander. We reach for soap that is created for us by a European. Then at the table we drank coffee which is provided for us by a South American, or tea by a Chinese, or cocoa by a West African. Before we leave for our jobs we are already beholden to more than half of the world.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

For further information Joseph Anderson (765) John Hoffman (952)