Fostering Parent and Professional Collaboration: Partnership Strategies © PACER Center, 2008

Defining the Collaborative Relationship Indicators of collaborative parent- professional partnerships: –Respect –Trust –Open communication –Shared goals © PACER Center, 20082

Defining the Collaborative Relationship Indicators of collaborative parent-professional partnerships: –People know what is expected of them –People appreciate others’ perspectives –Parents are treated as experts on their children –Parents and professionals take different actions to make the relationship work © PACER Center, 20083

What Professionals Can Do Keep promises and ensure confidentiality –Let parents know what information is private and what will be shared with others –Ask permission to talk about the child with others © PACER Center, 20084

What Professionals Can Do Be hopeful and honest about a child’s abilities and potential –Do not withhold information that may be painful –Admit if you do not have answers © PACER Center, 20085

What Professionals Can Do Help parents to identify their strengths –Some may not know that what they do is important –Many families are not accustomed to thinking about strengths Point out interventions families already use Describe the strengths of family members © PACER Center, 20086

What Professionals Can Do Help parents to identify their choices –Provide an array of options and encourage parents to make their own decisions Demonstrate and model problem-solving skills © PACER Center, 20087

What Professionals Can Do Accept parents as equal partners –Takes more time initially, especially with parents from some cultures where professional expertise guides decision-making Be flexible and considerate of parents’ points of view – even when you may not agree © PACER Center, 20088

What Professionals Can Do Consider the parent’s perspective in all aspects of planning –Reinforce strengths –Remember their challenges and other responsibilities that may guide decisions Support parents as their child’s best advocate in making decisions © PACER Center, 20089

What Professionals Can Do Take care of logistics for meeting or event –Be flexible in time, location –Let parents know that their participation is important –Ask if any supports are needed to help parents attend (transportation, babysitting, bus fare, etc.) © PACER Center,

What Professionals Can Do Encourage parent participation on committees that address education and other relevant areas –Consider involving parents in staff development –Agencies may hire parents as part of their staff to effectively engage other parents in agency services © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Recognize professional commitment and expertise Thank professionals who have been helpful Consider that professionals may be limited by the system in which they work © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Reinforce at home what a child is learning in school –Children are aware of parents’ views –Keep a child’s outlook on school positive © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Be considerate of professional point of view –No one knows a child in the same way as parents –Professionals cannot know what parents have had to learn from experience © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Be honest –It is important that parents speak up when they do not understand a discussion –The right to disagree has meaning only if parents understand © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Follow through with promises made –Honor commitment made –Trust develops when parents and professionals can rely on one another’s word © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Find solutions for disagreements –They are generally honest differences of opinion –They are not personal attacks –Keep children out of school disagreements © PACER Center,

What Parents Can Do Remember that life is full of compromises –Keep the focus on desired outcomes –Nothing is written in stone – services may be changed as needed © PACER Center,

Communication Communication makes a difference in the effectiveness of collaboration Nonverbal communication is as important as the words we use Information in writing keeps understanding clear © PACER Center,

Communication Disagreeing does not mean being disagreeable! –Ask questions to help clarify differing opinions –Children should never be included in disagreements Balance bad news with positive comments © PACER Center,

Communication Professionals should avoid jargon –Even basic terms like IEP or 504 plan are not understood by many parents –Jargon makes communication more difficult Provide written information in parents’ native language © PACER Center,

Why Collaboration? Parent-professional collaboration benefits everyone –Parents become more involved in education –Children perform better –Schools are more welcoming and positive when parents and professionals work together © PACER Center,

23 From “Fostering Parent and Professional Collaboration: Partnership Strategies” by PACER Center, © Used with permission from PACER Center, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, (952) All rights reserved.

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Conflict Resolution The Problem Solving Process I. Define the problem “What’s the problem?” II. Define the objectives “What do we want to achieve?” III. Analyze the problem “What is causing the problem?” IV. Create options for solutions “What are the possible solutions?” V. Select the best solution “What is the best alternative?” VI. Troubleshoot “What might go wrong?” VII. Implement the solution “What needs to be done & who needs to know?” VIII. Evaluate “How effective is the solution?” 25

Negotiation Methodology SEPARATE THE PERSON FROM THE PROBLEM Remember when a relationship becomes entangled with the problem, that on both the giving and receiving end we are likely to treat the person and the problem as one. 26

Negotiation Methodology REMEDY  Don’t invade the person’s space. That only antagonized & escalates the conflict.  Remain rationally detached. Don’t take their attacks personally. Don’t react to emotional outbursts.  Identify the real issue behind the conflict.  REMEMBER: You both want what’s best for the CHILD. 27

What to do… Keep accurate records; document everything Become familiar with the Laws Identify important people Learn how the system works Determine how much assistance you are willing and capable of providing Be an Effective Communicator Confidentiality Know when enough is enough 28

For Additional Information Contact the Parent Education Network Industrial Highway York, PA (800) V/TTY or (800) (Espanol) 29