Supporting families is important work. It is important that professionals who support families meet families where they are at and assume confidence and competence. It is also essential that families have the opportunity to participate in a voluntary family-directed assessment which allows them to identify their concerns, priorities and resources and enables them to develop functional, family-centered and meaningful outcomes for their child and family.
It is critical that professionals who support families are aware of current evidence-based research which demonstrates that there are ways to assist families. That if we are to incorporate new skills into our repertoire we must have an introduction or illustration, practice and then have an opportunity to evaluate and reflect on our efforts. Carl Dunst, and his team at the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, has done considerable research on how to empower parents and support their confidence and capacity, as they care for their child with an infant and toddler with a disability.
Using Team Based Services that encourage providers to work as a team, rather than a series of individuals, is the first step. The next step is to provide professional development that help professionals to strengthen parent capacity as part of early intervention.
Want to Learn More?
Carl Dunst Research Scientist, Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, NC. http://www.puckett.org/ The Institute Centers include, Center for Evidence-Based Practices www.evidencebasedpractices.org,Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Education www.ceecenc.org,
Center for Innovative and Promising Practices www.innovativepractices.org,
Center for Improving Community Linkages www.communitylinkages.org,
Center for Practical Evaluation www.practicalevaluation.org,
Center for Dissemination and Utilization www.utlization.info. http://leadership-2012.events.tadnet.org/uploads/879/download
Dunst, C.J., Trivette, C.M., & Hamby,
D.W. (2010). Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of four adult learning methods
and strategies. International Journal of Continuing Education and Lifelong
Learning, 3(1), 91-112.
Dunst, C. J., and; Trivette, C. M. (2009).
Capacity-building family systems intervention practices. Journal of Family
Social Work, 12(2), 119-143.
Swanson, J., Raab, M., & Dunst, C.J.
(2011). Strengthening family capacity to provide young children everyday
natural learning opportunities. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 9(1),
66-80.
Dunst, C.J., and; Trivette, C.M. (2009).
Meta-analytic structural equation modeling of the influences of family-centered
care on parent and child psychological health. International Journal of
Pediatrics, 2009, 1-9.
