Collaborating With Families to Develop FBA’s and BIP’s Karin H. Spencer SPED 290 Spring 2008

Challenging Behaviors

Barriers to Partnering with Parents Emotional reactions Single parents Conflicts in child rearing practices Communication Time constraints Other children in family Language barriers Transportation (Ruef, Turnbull & Poston, 1999)

Eco-behavioral Approach

A Family Perspective: An Emotional Rollercoaster

Families’ Perspectives of Challenging Behavior

Family Perspectives Respect for their children Skills and experiences to meet the special needs of their children. Willingness to learn new things Level of commitment to the child and family

Collaborative Strategies Spend time getting to know families Welcome parents to observe and participate in program activities Consult with parents about children’s abilities, interests, and preferences Routinely share information about children Value parent’s sharing of concerns Communicate in parent’s home language Conduct home visits Powell, Dunlap, & Fox, 2006

Culturally Relevant Strategies Consider different beliefs, values, and expectations… Understand typical development AND variations across individuals, families and culture Ask value neutral questions to understand parents child rearing beliefs Use family routines as a starting point for providing services for suggesting interventions

Culturally Relevant Strategies Learn to be fluent in other ways of sharing and seeking information Understand the difference between low context and high context cultures to more effectively communicate and build relationships

A Provider’s Perspective: Understanding Diversity

On The Same Page

Tips for Practitioners Focus on relationship building Express concern for child Be clear about your goals Gather information Provide information

Family Perspective: Tips for Teachers

References and Resources Books: Boulare, G., Schwartz, I., McBride, B. (1999) Addressing challenging behaviors at home: Working with families to find solutions. In S. Sandall & M. Ostrosky (Eds) Practical Ideas for Addressing Challenging Behaviors. Division of Early Childhood of the Council For Exceptional Children, Kaiser, B. & Rasminsky, J. (2007). Challenging behavior in young children: Understanding, preventing, and responding effectively. Boston: Pearson.

References and Resources Articles: Becker-Cotrill, B., McFarland, J., Anderson, V. (2003). A model of positive behavioral support with autism and their families: The family focus process. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 18(2), Buschbacher, Fox, & Clarke (2004). Recapturing desired family routines: a parent-professional behavioral collaboration. Research for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 29(1), Fredericks, L., Weissberg, R., Resnik, H., Patrikakou, E., & O’Brien. N.d. Schools, families, and social emotional Learning: Ideas and tools for working with parents and families. Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning.

References and Resources Articles: Gonzalez-Mena, J. (1997). Lessons form my mother-inlaw: A story about discipline. Child Care Information Exchange. Griggs, P. & Turnbull, A. n.d. Addressing cultural and economic diversity in PBS. Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Positive Behavioral Support. Park, J, & Turnbull, A. (2002). Quality indicators of professionals who work with children with problem behavior. Journal of Positive Behavior Intervention, 4(2), Powell, D., Dunlap, G., & Fox. (2006). Prevention and Intervention for the challenging behaviors of toddlers And preschoolers. Infants and Young Children,19(1), 25-35

References and Resources Websites: Beach Center on Disability Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice