1. Collaborative Family Partnerships

2. Collaborative family partnerships one indicator of high quality program DAP Guideline for Practice ECSE Recommended Practice TRAC Partnering with Families to Support Children’s Learning

3. Parent Involvement Philosophy Parents have the right and responsibility to share in decisions about their child’s care and education.

4. Guidelines for Developmentally Appropriate Parent/Provider Involvement Respect, cooperation, shared responsibility Regular, two-way communication Welcome in program, participation Shared decision making Parent choices and preferences respected Shared knowledge about child Source of information, engage in planning for child Links families to services and resources

5. Definition of a Family “Families are big, small, extended, nuclear, multi- generational, with one parent, two parents and grandparents. We live under one roof or many. A family can be as temporary as a few weeks, as permanent as forever. We become part of a family by birth, adoption, marriage, or from a desire for mutual support...A family is a culture unto itself, with different values and unique ways of realizing its dreams; together, our families become the source of our rich cultural heritage and spiritual diversity... Our families create neighborhoods, communities, states, and nations.” Source: Edelman, Larry et al., (1991) Getting on Board, Training activities to Promote the Practice of Family Centered Care.

6. Origins of Family-Centered Services Group of philosophies, attitudes, and approaches in caring for children with special needs and their families. First identified in 1988 by former Surgeon General Koop. Embodied in IDEA

7. Family Centered Philosophy Family is constant in child’s life Families want what is best for their children Families have different strategies to reach dreams and different needs No single approach is the right approach Family Centered Philosophy

8. Principles for Delivering Family Centered Services Respect family values and culture Trust family judgment Work together Be flexible Look at the whole picture Recognize parents as decision makers Relate to family as people

9. Slippery Egg Activity

10. Brainstorm Activity Informal Communication Strategies to Build Relationships  In pairs, brainstorm opportunities for “tennis ball” talk