IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR 101: IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR 101: INVOLVING FAMILIES in INVOLVING FAMILIES in

THEIR CHILDREN’S HEALTH THEIR CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARECARE

Carrie Baker – Ohio School Based Health Care Carrie Baker – Ohio School Based Health Care AssociationAssociation

Tiffany A. Clarke – NASBHCTiffany A. Clarke – NASBHCSeptember 21, 2008September 21, 2008

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Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives

Participants will be able toParticipants will be able to

AssessAssess self interest and identify why it is important to self interest and identify why it is important to engage families in SBHCsengage families in SBHCs

UnderstandUnderstand the different levels and strategies of family the different levels and strategies of family engagement within a SBHCengagement within a SBHC

FosterFoster pro-active reflection, planning and behavioral pro-active reflection, planning and behavioral incorporation of a multicultural lens within their family incorporation of a multicultural lens within their family engagement processengagement process

IdentifyIdentify resources they can use to assess, plan, and resources they can use to assess, plan, and implement parent engagement/involvement strategies.implement parent engagement/involvement strategies.

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Background PerspectiveBackground Perspective

NASBHC Study on SBHCs helping parents NASBHC Study on SBHCs helping parents talk with children about reproductive health talk with children about reproductive health care. (2002, www.nasbhc.org)care. (2002, www.nasbhc.org)

– Study intentStudy intent: identify best practices: identify best practices– Study findings: Study findings: no list of best practicesno list of best practices– Family Engagement Family Engagement is a processis a process– Supported by good curriculums and Supported by good curriculums and

processprocess

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FindingsFindings

School-based Health Centers are School-based Health Centers are ideally situated to assist in a broader, ideally situated to assist in a broader, comprehensive approach to family comprehensive approach to family engagement. Their expertise in health engagement. Their expertise in health and social issues, including sex and and social issues, including sex and reproduction, would be an important reproduction, would be an important asset. They may be able to lead these asset. They may be able to lead these efforts, but it is likely that they must be efforts, but it is likely that they must be part of a larger endeavor.part of a larger endeavor.

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Where are you when it comes to Where are you when it comes to Family Engagement?Family Engagement?

Not a quiz you can study forNot a quiz you can study forTongue in cheekTongue in cheekEncourages a discussionEncourages a discussionMaybe a chuckle or twoMaybe a chuckle or twoKeep track of your answersKeep track of your answers

– a, b, c, da, b, c, d

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Scoring GuideScoring Guide

Scoring Key:Scoring Key: ““a” = 1 pointa” = 1 point # of “a” answers ___ x 1 = _____# of “a” answers ___ x 1 = _____ ““b” = 2 pointsb” = 2 points # of “b” answers ___ x 2 = _____# of “b” answers ___ x 2 = _____ ““c” = 3 pointsc” = 3 points # of “c” answers ___ x 3 = _____# of “c” answers ___ x 3 = _____ ““d” = 4 pointsd” = 4 points # of “d” answers ___ x 4 = _____# of “d” answers ___ x 4 = _____

Total Points =_____Total Points =_____

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Where are you?Where are you?

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Role playRole play

So Why Invest in Family So Why Invest in Family Engagement?Engagement?

SHORT ANSWER:

It is one of the most powerful ways to increase student and school achievement

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Families matter for a range of Families matter for a range of social and academic outcomessocial and academic outcomes

Children with engaged parents: Have enhanced early and elementary literacy Show greater school readiness Earn higher grades and test scores Are promoted and earn credits Adapt well to school and attend regularly Have better social skills and behavior Graduate and go on to higher education

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So Why Invest in Family So Why Invest in Family Engagement?Engagement?

LONG ANSWER: BECAUSE WE ARE PARTNERS IN

THE WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN Communication is good – Being transparent with families can

increase student performance.

Advocacy – you need to be valued by families, and they will advocate for you.

Involvement with school - can help you find YOUR voice in the school. They can speak where you cannot.

Understand their needs, concerns, lifestyles: form a multicultural perspective – so you can help heal them. If you don’t know their needs and problems, how can you suggest to them solutions? Your solutions need to be relevant to them.

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DiscussionDiscussion

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4 Levels of Engagement4 Levels of Engagement

1. Individual: 1. Individual: Actively informed about Actively informed about and part of the healthcare decisions of and part of the healthcare decisions of their child: a personal relationship with their child: a personal relationship with the child’s care givers the child’s care givers

2. Center: 2. Center: Active in the governance and Active in the governance and clinic level activities: parent advisory clinic level activities: parent advisory councilscouncils

4 Levels of Engagement4 Levels of Engagement

3. Advocacy: 3. Advocacy: Active in advocacy for the Active in advocacy for the sustainability for the clinic and other sustainability for the clinic and other related policy initiatives: parents and youth related policy initiatives: parents and youth story-banking their experiences and story-banking their experiences and sharing them with local communitysharing them with local community

4. State/ national governance: 4. State/ national governance: Involved with Involved with the state association and/or national : the state association and/or national : youth and families coming to NASBHC youth and families coming to NASBHC conventionconvention

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Framing Families into the pictureFraming Families into the picture1. Engagement – forming a connection with families

from the first point of contact. For examples, on an individual level clinicians meet families “where they are” right now, establishing and maintaining connections throughout

2. Collaboration – actively partnering with families in the development of treatment goals (mental/physical/nutritional). Clinicians turn to families for insight and knowledge to tailor the therapeutic processes to issues at home in the community

Framing Families into the pictureFraming Families into the picture

3. Support – serving as a positive resource center for families. Clinicians direct families to viable supports within the community that augment the treatment process

4. Empowerment – promoting family involvement at the highest level. Clinicians reduce perceived barriers, equip families with the means to contribute and guide the treatment process, and help to instill self-efficacy

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Strategies for EngagementStrategies for Engagement

The revolving doorThe revolving door Ongoing engagementOngoing engagement

Leadership developmentLeadership development

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The Revolving doorThe Revolving door

GO TO WHERE THEY ARE… Where do they gather? (soccer games, church, Where do they gather? (soccer games, church,

etc)etc) What are their interests and needs as What are their interests and needs as

guardians?guardians? What could meet their needs?What could meet their needs? Youth-centered community organizations?Youth-centered community organizations? With which groups and activities are the students With which groups and activities are the students

in your center involved?in your center involved?

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Ongoing (relational) Engagement:Ongoing (relational) Engagement: Going on a scavenger huntGoing on a scavenger hunt

Interests beyond the SBHCInterests beyond the SBHCOther health care concernsOther health care concernsOther community concernsOther community concerns Involvement in the communityInvolvement in the communityNetwork of family and friendsNetwork of family and friendsProfessional interestsProfessional interests

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Ongoing Engagement: Ongoing Engagement: Learning about the communityLearning about the community

Historical contextHistorical context Economic and politic issuesEconomic and politic issues Cultural and tradition-specific areasCultural and tradition-specific areas Medical orientationMedical orientation DietDiet ReligionReligion

For detailed questions:http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/sub_section_tools_1163.htm

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Leadership DevelopmentLeadership Development

"Trust men and they will be true to you: "Trust men and they will be true to you: treat them greatly and they will show treat them greatly and they will show

themselves great.“themselves great.“

— — Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

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Where to start…Where to start…

Determine who from the SBHC and school Determine who from the SBHC and school community could represent the interests and community could represent the interests and needs of the SBHC. needs of the SBHC.

Decide the first three steps you can take to Decide the first three steps you can take to make connections with the targeted list make connections with the targeted list above.above.

The research tells us The research tells us

– Using phone calls or e-mail to contact families helps reduce perceived barriers to service access

– Caregivers involved in developing treatment plans for their child report higher levels of self-efficacy, which is related to greater investment in the treatment process

– Collaborating with caregivers in the treatment process reduces the amount of time students spend in the treatment environment

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TipsTips

Ask more ‘Why’ questionsAsk more ‘Why’ questions Share something from your life with themShare something from your life with them Don’t give up: It will take a lot of conversations Don’t give up: It will take a lot of conversations

to find an interested family memberto find an interested family member Take notes after your conversationsTake notes after your conversations Keep a log of common gathering places and Keep a log of common gathering places and

activitiesactivities Be genuinely interested about their lives Be genuinely interested about their lives

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Additional TipsAdditional Tips

Decide who the best messenger is. It Decide who the best messenger is. It doesn’t always have to be you and doesn’t always have to be you and often shouldn’t be. often shouldn’t be.

HAVE A PLAN.HAVE A PLAN. It will help with It will help with retention and recruitment. Others want retention and recruitment. Others want to get involved with something to get involved with something organized. Word of mouth works too!organized. Word of mouth works too!

Putting it into PracticePutting it into Practice Attending open houses Attending Registrations Sitting and talking in the waiting room Parents/family members engaged in handing out

fliers and information Speaking to different organizations, groups,

school administration ect Providing asthma education to families Involvement in advisory boards Relationship building with your school

administrators and board members

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Staying ConnectedStaying Connected

Carrie BakerCarrie Bakercarrie@bakernonprofits.com

Tiffany ClarkeTiffany Clarketclarke@nasbhc.org

Questions?Questions?