1. FSCD Policy Changes and Practice Shift
FSCD Service Provider Discussion
Disability Services Branch
September2018

2. Objective Share concerns raised by parents.
Update on Government response including FSCD policy updates, the practice shift and next steps.
Discuss how we work together to support children and families.
Discuss service provider capacity.
AGENDA FOR TODAY:
A brief ppt presentation regarding FSCD changes and practice shift
Followed by key discussion point questions
Opportunity to hear from service providers

3. Parents Identified Concerns
Parents identified concerns about specialized services being too focused on “training” parents and not enough on helping children learn skills.
Listening Sessions were held in Edmonton and Calgary in May 2018.
The “What we Heard” document highlights the concerns and the governments commitment to changes.
Parent Training versus direct services to children
Parents want to be parents, not therapists
Parents and families want access to direct therapy for their children
Parents want the language of “parent coaching” or “parent training” eliminated
Parents want reduced barriers for working parents
Parents shouldn’t have to give up work/careers to receive supports
Parents cannot identify all the needs of the child
Parents do not want to be judged by the program or made to feel guilty
FSCD Act and Regulation have not changed, however practice and messaging about services and program intent has shifted over time.
Parent feedback has highlighted that FSCD practice and interpretation of family-centred practice has become too focused on parents and parent capacity.
It used to be that services were focused very heavily on the child.
When FSCD was created, services started to move to also supporting the family so they had more knowledge and skills. The intention was that services to children would also continue.
There was an overcorrection and a stronger emphasis began getting placed on parent capacity. Parent feedback brought attention to that.
Now we need to work at realigning supports and services to families with the intent of the legislation, which is support for the child and for the family.

4. Response to Concerns
The Ministry committed to an immediate shift in FSCD practice along with:
updates to FSCD’s provincial policy;
updates FSCD staff training resources;
revised communication resources and website updates as well as tip sheets for families;
a review of the FSCD MDT Multi-disciplinary Team process to ensure the process is clear and supportive for parents; and
strategies to increase service provider capacity.

5. FSCD Practice Shift
Discontinue “parent training and coaching” language.
Support child specific goals and direct support to children.
A more balanced approach in supporting children and families (sole focus is not parent capacity building).
Parent involvement is not a requirement; it is based on family choice.
FSCD Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) plays a supportive function for families; not an administrative barrier.
The policy changes and practice shift do not mean that parents or others cannot be involved in specialized services. It means that they have choice in what their involvement looks like and that their participation is not a requirement in order for their child to receive specialized services.
Parents will always play key roles in supporting their child’s development regardless of what their participation in specialized services looks like.
Parents as well as other people in the child’s life can be involved with specialized services and in promoting the child’s development, including siblings, grandparents, aunt/uncle, nanny, respite worker, etc. Parents are not the only ones who support children in their daily activities.
The involvement of parents and others in specialized services can vary over time based on their needs and choice.
Parents are not required to participate in their child’s specialized services as a requirement or condition for their child to receive this service.
 Parents do not need to participate or be in the room while specialized service providers are working with their child.
Parents with their team will decide what works best for them and how they will support the child to generalize skills.
Parents can choose what their involvement in specialized services looks like and what if any consultation support they wish to access from their specialized services team regarding strategies for use in their family’s daily routines.
Parents will not be judged for the choices they make.
When specialized services are being provided in the family home, guardians remain responsible for their child’s care and, if they are not home, may have an alternate caregiver or babysitter present. Specialized service providers are not expected to take on caregiver responsibilities.

6. Broader Program Implications
While the concerns raised by parents and the response largely focuses on specialized services, the practice shift has broader program implications related to:
Family-centred practice
Direct support for children, e.g. behavioural/developmental supports
Advocacy support

7. FSCD Legislation
The Act respects the ability of families to care for their children, values family-centered supports, promotes inclusion and recognizes the need for an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach.
The Act sets the stage for FSCD to provide supports to children, parents and the family to be strong and resilient, to assist parents in the role of caring for their child, promote their child’s development and help facilitate inclusion.
The FSCD legislation and existing policy are not a barrier to the practice shift that is needed.
The Act and Regulation support the provision of direct services to children as part of specialized services
Specialized services policy does not dictate what specialized services need to look like for a family

8. Legislation - Specialized Services Regulation
FSCD Regulation provides for:
“specialized services for the child”
The legal interpretation here is service for the child and/or consultation to the guardian.

9. Family-Centred Support
Family-centred support recognizes that parents know their child best, respects families as unique, allows families to define their own priorities and goals, and places parents at the centre of planning supports that will work for their child and family.
It does not mean that parents are the sole target of intervention or that parental self-sufficiency is the goal.
Family-centred support ensures that families are the drivers of the planning and decision-making and recognizes that each family is unique and that services must fit each family’s strengths and needs, time and priorities, cultural context and values.
Building capacity does not mean that the only capacity built is the parents’. Building the child’s capacity and abilities is equally important to family functioning and wellbeing.
Refer to articles in the Foundational Models Core Training module for more information on Capacity Building.

10. Communication about Changes
Minister Letter and “What we Heard” report sent to specialized services parents and service providers – June 29, 2018
August 2, 2018 update to specialized service families and service providers, including:
Updated policy sections
FSCD Specialized Services General Info Tip Sheet
FSCD Multiyear Agreement Tip Sheet
FSCD Concerns Resolution Tip Sheet
Specialized Services Practices and Approaches Tip Sheet
You have been provided copies of the information in your meeting package
Follow-up and docs sent to May listening session participants
Website

11. FSCD Policy Updates
FSCD policy updates were implemented August 2, 2018.
Specialized services policy was updated as well as other sections of the manual, including information on family-centred supports, program vision and outcomes to provide clarification and guidance to support the practice shift.
While the focus of policy updates was on specialized services, the shift to a more balanced approach to supporting the wellbeing of families influences a more broad view of the FSCD program and its enabling legislation and how that can be used to support families.
The introduction section of the policy manual, Section 2, was also updated to clarify family-centred practice and this balanced approach to supporting families.

12. Continued… Family-Centred Supports and Services:
to support consistent understanding of family-centred practice and promote a balance between supporting the child and the family as a whole.
FSCD Program Outcomes:
to reflect a balanced approach between direct support to children and child outcomes, as well as family support and family outcomes.
While the focus of policy updates was on specialized services, the shift to a more balanced approach to supporting the wellbeing of families influences a more broad view of the FSCD program and its enabling legislation and how that can be used to support families.
The introduction section of the policy manual, Section 2, was also updated to address family-centred practice and this balanced approach to supporting families.

13. Continued… Specialized Services Policy Update:
specialized services involve direct support for children
parents are the experts on their child’s needs and what will work best for their family
parents do not need to be in the room or participate in order for their child to receive specialized services
parent consultation is not a necessary component of specialized services
as part of service planning with their team, families can determine what their level of involvement will be.
Facilitating deliberate and intentional planning conversations with the team about the best approaches to meet the child and family’s needs, including how parents/families and children are supported.

14. Continued… Specialized service policy updates also clarify that:
Parents are not expected to become “therapists” to their child.
Parents are not expected to provide direct services or intervention to their child.
Parents are not required to do “homework” between meetings with their specialized services team.

15. Additional Listening Sessions
Additional listening sessions will be held across the province to provide families, service providers and other interested stakeholders with the opportunity to validate ‘what we heard’ and provide additional input on FSCD program improvement.
Listening Sessions will also provide an opportunity to create awareness about FSCD RPACs and PPAC.

16. Service Provider Discussions
Service delivery regions are meeting with their local services providers to discuss:
the policy changes;
the practice shift;
opportunities to work together to ensure that children and families receive the support they need; and
service provider capacity.

17. Tip Sheet for Service Providers
A tip sheet is being finalized for services providers to clarify
What the practice shift means for them
Clarify that parent involvement is not a requirement for the provision of specialized services
Clarify that child oriented goals should be included in Individualized Service Plans
You will receive copies of the information provided to service providers.
Regions will be meeting with service providers to discuss these changes/updates.
Service provision should be flexible, recognizing that family involvement will vary and change over time to meet the families needs and the goals of the support plan. Some families may want to be more involved in guiding services and others are seeking more guidance or modeling. Service may need to focus more on the child in the beginning to understand what strategies will work for them and help the child learn them, and then shift over time.

18. Key discussion points for today
Questions about what we heard?
Questions / comments about the changes and the practice shift?
How can we work together to support children and families?
Service provider capacity?

19. Questions?