Engaging Families in NH’s Part C Child and Family Outcomes Systems Presented by: Michelle Lewis (Parent, ICC Vice Chair, New Hampshire PTI)

From the Beginning… NH was dedicated to multi-stakeholder input 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) 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 Found new ways to involve families –Distance participation –Informal mentoring

The commitment continued… Family led development of Child Outcomes Brochure Family led development of Child Outcomes Brochure Family members were co-trainers at the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) staff trainings 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Helping programs understand the importance of collecting family and child outcome data Increasing response rate of family outcomes survey Increasing response rate of family outcomes survey Providing on-going staff training on COSF Summary Form Providing on-going staff training on COSF Summary Form Using family outcomes data to target improvement activities Using family outcomes data to target improvement activities

ICC Involvement in the Process Reviews and provides feedback on child outcomes data Reviews and provides feedback on child outcomes data May become an advisory group to the family outcomes survey 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 Use state parent organizations to get parent input Ask families what they think of the child outcomes process 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 feedback from families to improve process Use families as co-trainers in staff orientation programs Use families as co-trainers in staff orientation programs

For more information… Michelle Lewis – ext. 14