What Families Say They Want
Before the meeting:
- Give me a chance to share my story.
- Help me to find my informal supports so that they can come to the meeting.
- Educate yourself about my child’s illnesses or my situation, don’t just say you don’t know
- Listen to my needs and my families needs.
- No surprises-make sure I know before hand what we will be talking about at my meeting.
- Don’t have the meeting unless I can come if it is about me.
- Work with me to set up a time that I can be present at the meeting and be sensitive to my needs.
- Recognize my feelings as a parent i.e. Angry, scared and tired of the mess.
- Help me understand how the meeting works and what are my options.
- Listen to what I am saying and explore why I am saying it.
At the meeting:
- Allow me to introduce myself to the team.
- Talk to me, not about me.
- Monitor your tone of voice.
- Call me by my name not “mom”, “dad” or “the youth”.
- Make sure I have someone at the table I feel will support me.
- Use words I can understand.
- Use humor to make me feel safe.
- Give me a chance to share my story.
- Help me to meet my immediate needs first like housing, transportation, childcare, food, lights.
- Remind me of my family’s strengths and build on them.
- Ask me how my situation looks in my child and families life…How it impacts us.
- Provide services where needed not just mandated services. Don’t waste my time on services that will not help my family.
- Know what the family has to do in all of the agency plans so we can come up with one plan.
- Listen to my needs and my families needs.
- Use visual prompts so I can follow better.
- Tell the truth.
- No surprises-make sure I know before hand what we will be talking about at my meeting.
- Let me explain why I behave the way I do.
- Lets us speak more.
- Be open to questions and our opinions.
- Make the meeting more active and fun.
- Everyone come like they said they would.
- Speak to the me and my child like we are a part of the solution not like we are the problem.
- Ask for information; don’t assume you know the answers.
- Provide access to resources and services.
- Respect me, and that I am doing what I know to do.
After the Meeting:
- Respect my confidentiality-don’t talk about me to others.
- Allow me the opportunity to call meetings when I feel I need to.
- All team members need to be held accountable, not just the parents.