Engaging Families as Partners Tips
- Look at every parent or caregiver you are currently working with as a potential person you could partner with to help you deliver the Child and Family Team Training.
- When asking parents or caregivers to team with you as a family partner make sure that person knows exactly what you are asking them to do.
- Develop a Job Description for that position
- Check in with the Family Partner regularly, do not assume that person will know exactly what to do in their new job.
- Don’t be afraid to ask that Family Partner to mentor you.
- Keep in mind that the Family Partner is a partner in the SOC process; they are the expert in their field. Just like you are an expert in your field.
- Family Partners want to know they are contributing to the process, not accompany you to training as a show and tell.
- Expect input and products to be developed by a Family Partner. Those products should reflect the values and principles of SOC, if they do, you do not need to correct those products to make them more agency friendly. Let them stand.
- Family Partners should be fairly compensated for their input, work, travel and expenses.