strengthening families self-assessment for family child care providers

Transcription

1 strengthening fmilies self-ssessment for fmily hild re providers PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION BEFORE COMPLETING THE SELF-ASSESSMENT When hildren grow nd lern in loving nd ring environments, they n do etter in shool nd re more prepred for the future. Yet even the est prents need help to give their hildren the gretest hne t suess. Home-sed hild re providers ply n importnt role in proteting nd ring for young hildren nd in promoting their soil nd emotionl development. Home-sed hild re providers who reh out to prents in different wys help prents to help their hildren grow nd develop in positive nd helthy mnner. Home-sed hild re providers who reh out to prents lso help derese the hnes of hild use nd neglet in fmilies. The Strengthening Fmilies Approh The Center for the Study of Soil Poliy onduted extensive reserh tht resulted in shifting the fous out hild use nd neglet prevention to strengthening fmilies s wy of rehing fmilies efore risk of hild use or neglet ours. The Strengthening Fmilies TM pproh is sed in the identifition of five Protetive Ftors tht redue the likelihood of hild use nd neglet when they re present nd roust in fmily. The Five Protetive Ftors Prentl Resiliene Prents mintin positive ttitude nd hve the ility to ope with, retively solve, nd oune k from ll types of life hllenges. Soil Connetions Prents hve network of people, genies, nd orgniztions tht provide emotionl support nd onrete ssistne. Knowledge of Prenting nd Child Development Prents understnd wht to expet t different stges of hild development, effetive prenting skills, nd wys of finding help with speifi developmentl or ehviorl prolems. Conrete Support in Times of Need Prents hve ess to forml nd informl servies nd support from soil networks in times of fmily risis. Soil nd Emotionl Competene Prents work with hildren to help them lern to intert positively with others, ommunite their emotions, nd feel good out themselves. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers i

2 strengthening fmilies self-ssessment for fmily hild re providers Strtegies to Build the Protetive Ftors All erly re nd edution professionls inluding fmily hild re providers n work to uild the 5 protetive ftors in fmilies y using the following 7 strtegies: 1. Vlue nd nurture prents 2. Filitte friendships nd mutul support 3. Strengthen prenting 4. Filitte hildren s soil nd emotionl development 5. Link fmilies to servies nd opportunities 6. Respond to fmily risis 7. Oserve nd respond to erly wrning signs of hild use or neglet The Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers The Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers is written for fmily hild re providers who wnt to work etter with nd support the prents of the hildren they serve. The Self-Assessment is orgnized round the 7 strtegies listed ove. Fmily hild re providers should use the Self-Assessment to review their urrent prties in order to determine whih of their urrent prties re uilding the protetive ftors nd whih prties they need to work on. All of the sttements tht follow desrie different wys tht providers n work to uild the protetive ftors y using the 7 strtegies. Respond to eh sttement y heking one of the following responses: I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue. The Self-Assessment tkes minutes to omplete. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers ii

3 strtegy one: vlue nd support prents Chek one ox Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Vlue nd Support Prents I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Hve wrm reltionship with eh prent nd with other memers of the hild s fmily. 2 Keep informtion out hildren nd fmilies onfidentil. 3 Intert dily with eh hild s prent, suh s telling prents out the hild s dy, emiling photos, shring dily tivity log, nd other wys. 4 Hve ple in your home where prents n sit omfortly nd tlk with you. 5 Offer trets like offee or muffins t drop-off or pik-up time. 6 Show respet for prents points of view. 7 Mke n effort to honor prents speil requests for their hildren, suh s providing vegetrin mels. 8 Enourge prents to shre skills, tlents, nd ulturl trditions in the progrm. 9 Show ppreition to prents for suh things s prtiipting in the progrm nd mking timely pyments. 10 Provide opportunities for prents to prtiipte in stress-relieving fmily tivities suh s potluks. 11 Provide opportunities for prents to prtiipte in stress-relieving tivities for dults only suh s dte nights with prtner, Moms or Dds night out, exerise lsses, et. 12 Enourge fthers nd other mle fmily memers to feel omfortle nd get involved. 13 Enourge prents to ttend hild development, prenting, nd selfimprovement onferenes, workshops, nd trinings, nd shre informtion with others. 14 Enourge prents to hve input into deisions out the progrm. 15 Mke sure tht stff, or others who my help out in the fmily hild re progrm, hve wrm reltionships with the hildren s fmily memers. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 1-1

4 strtegy two: filitte friendships nd mutul support Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Filitte Friendships nd Mutul Support Chek one ox I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Introdue prents to eh other. 2 Provide weloming spe for prents to tlk informlly with eh other. 3 Allow time for prents to intert with eh other nd the provider t pik-up nd drop-off times. 4 Help prents find wys to ommunite with eh other, suh s hving fmily diretory. 5 Connet prents who hve sme-ge hildren, similr interests, nd like irumstnes, suh s those who spek the sme lnguge. 6 Crete opportunities for prents to get to know ll the hildren in the group. 7 Pln wys for prents to ome together, meet new people, nd enjoy sense of ommunity, suh s: Periodi events like speil rekfsts, potluks, nd fmily fun nights. Celertions, grdutions, nd other hild-entered progrms. Field trips nd other outings with prents s hperones. d Events for prents to shre nd lern out eh other s home life nd ulturl kgrounds. e Fun nd ffordle fmily tivities, suh s going owling or to the zoo. f Speil progrms for dds nd other mle fmily memers. g Meet nd greet gtherings for new nd old fmilies. 8 Filitte the disussion in group setting so eh prent hs hne to tlk. 9 Shre ides for prents to get together outside of the fmily hild re progrm, suh s weekend tivities like going to the plyground or hildren s irthdy prties. 10 Reh out to isolted prents in different wys, suh s: Mking speil efforts to onnet them with other prents. Clling, visiting their home, or sending notes. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 2-1

5 strtegy two: filitte friendships nd mutul support Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Filitte Friendships nd Mutul Support Chek one ox I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue Personlly inviting them to soil tivities. d Helping rrnge trnsporttion or hild re so they n prtiipte in soil tivities. e Conneting them with resoures suh s mentl helth speilists who n help them explore their feelings of isoltion. 11 Model friendly ehvior for prents nd hildren y: Wrmly greeting prents nd hildren t drop-off or pik-up. Hving hildren greet fmilies upon rrivl (sying good morning ) & deprture (sying ye-ye ). Inluding ll hildren nd ll fmilies in progrm events. d Enourging prents to invite ll hildren in the fmily hild re home to their hild s elertions. e Helping to resolve issues mong prents tht ffet the progrm. f Promoting understnding of different ultures nd kgrounds mong fmilies. 12 Red out wys to inrese prent enggement in the progrm. 13 Prtiipte in edutionl/trining opportunities out wys to engge prents in the progrm. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 2-2

6 strtegy three: strengthen prenting Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Strengthen Prenting Chek one ox I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Tlk with prents out the progrm s hild guidne prties: Explin why physil punishment (spnking or hitting) is not llowed y nyone in the fmily hild re home inluding prents nd fmily memers. Explin why verl punishment (yelling nd nme lling) is not llowed y nyone in the fmily hild re home inluding prents nd fmily memers. Explin the hild guidne tehniques you model. 2 Model wrm nd responsive intertions with hildren. 3 Use pproprite hild guidne tehniques. 4 Lern out prents fmily/ulturl/ethni expettions nd prties out prenting. 5 Provide prenting informtion in the primry lnguge spoken y prents. 6 Disuss prenting nd hild development issues whenever prent sks for informtion or it ppers tht prent needs support. 7 Disuss prenting nd hild development issues in non-judgmentl wy. 8 Shre informtion on prenting nd hild development issues through: Books/rohures/hndouts/wesites in prent resoure lirry. Opportunities for prents with similr onerns to ome together nd shre ides nd informtion. Regulr postings on ulletin ords nd other wys, suh s newsletters. d Tke home mterils. 9 Provide opportunities for prents to lern out eh others ulturl/ethni prenting prties. 10 Enourge prents to oserve the fmily hild re progrm. 11 Enourge prents to disuss guidne hllenges they my hve t home. 12 Provide informtion out: Age pproprite expettions for the hild s ehvior. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 3-1

7 strtegy three: strengthen prenting Chek one ox Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Filitte Friendships nd Mutul Support I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue Reognizing nd reinforing desired/pproprite ehvior. Alternte wys to respond to undesirle/inpproprite ehvior. d Wys prents n enourge hildren to express their feelings ppropritely t home. e Wys prents n enourge hildren to prtie positive soil skills t home. 13 If onerned out prent s prenting skills: d e Reh out to the prent in respetful wy nd shre onerns out the hild or out the prent s prenting prties. Aknowledge tht hildren s ehvior n e frustrting nd knowledge prents efforts to mnge the hild s ehvior. Aknowledge the prent s desire nd effort to eome etter prent. Connet the prent to resoures nd supports tht my help to ddress the prenting issues. Connet the prent to other prents who n shre or model positive prenting pprohes. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 3-2

8 strtegy four: filitte hildren s soil nd emotionl development Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Filitte Children s Soil nd Emotionl Development Chek one ox I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Reognize hildren s feelings, nme them, nd use tehing ids like ooks nd puppets to help hildren understnd feelings. 2 Model how to express emotions ppropritely, prolem solve with words, nd tret others with respet nd kindness. 3 Enourge hildren to express their feelings through words, rtwork, expressive ply, nd tions. 4 Enourge hildren to oserve nd listen to the feelings of others. 5 Help hildren to nme their feelings nd prolem solve using words. 6 Enourge hildren to form friendships, engge in oopertive ply, use polite lnguge nd mnners, nd respet differenes in others. 7 Enourge prents to oserve their hild interting with other hildren in the fmily hild re progrm. 8 Help prents understnd their hild s soil nd emotionl development y: Informing prents of the mening of soil nd emotionl development. Informing prents of the importne of hildren s soil nd emotionl development. Providing prents opportunities to disuss soil nd emotionl issues within ulturl ontext. d Giving prents ides on how to promote their hild s soil nd emotionl lerning t home. 9 If onerned out hild s soil nd emotionl development: Reh out to the prent in respetful wy nd shre onerns out the hild s soil nd emotionl development. Connet the prent to resoures tht n support the hild s soil nd emotionl development, suh s ply therpy nd mentl helth servies. Help the prent prolem solve out how to ddress the issue t home. d Connet prent to other prents who n shre nd model positive prenting pprohes. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 4-1

9 strtegy four: filitte hildren s soil nd emotionl development Chek one ox Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Filitte Children s Soil nd Emotionl Development I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 10 Red out wys to promote hildren s soil nd emotionl development. 11 Prtiipte in trining opportunities out wys to promote hildren s soil nd emotionl development. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 4-2

10 strtegy five: link fmilies to servies nd opportunities Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Link Fmilies to Servies nd Opportunities Chek one ox I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Tlk with prents out: Their interests, skills, needs, nd gols for themselves nd their hildren. Opportunities in the fmily hild re progrm tht my help them hieve their gols nd use their skills nd tlents. Other resoures, wesites, prents, nd ommunity opportunities tht my help them ontinue to hieve their gols 2 Enourge prents to shre informtion out ommunity resoures with eh other, suh s toy exhnges, resle shops, plygrounds, nd fmily tivities. 3 Provide ess to up-to-dte informtion out vrious resoures nd servies tht re ville in the ommunity. 4 If there is need to mke referrls to outside servies: Brinstorm with prents out wht resoures would e helpful. Follow-up with prents to see if they used the referrl nd, if so, were they hppy with the servies. Mke personl onnetion etween the fmily nd the other servie provider, if possile. 5 If prents did not use the referrl, help ddress rriers to following-up on servies, suh s trnsporttion, lnguge, hild re, fees, nd nervousness. 6 Contt ommunity servie providers in order to: Bring other servies to the fmily hild re home when possile. Ese the referrl proess. Shre informtion with prents out resoures. Tlk out wys to etter work with genies nd ess servies. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 5-1

11 strtegy six: respond to fmily rises Chek one ox Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Respond to Fmily Crises I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Develop personl reltionship with eh prent y tking time to get to know them individully; listening to the prent; providing enourgement nd support in non-judgmentl wy; respeting onfidentility; nd uilding trust. 2 Let prents know tht they n turn to you in times of risis in the following wys: By listening, showing onern, shring some of your own personl hllenges or desires. By shring mterils nd poliies when fmilies enroll in the progrm. By onsidering reduing tuition or llowing for delyed pyment, if prent is experiening finnil risis 3 If pproprite, moilize other prents in the progrm to help fmily when risis ours. 4 Respond protively to signs of prent or fmily distress y: d Expressing your onern nd offering help. Mking yourself ville to the prent if they need to tlk. Helping fmilies mke immedite nd long-term plns. Offering to onnet the fmily to needed resoures inluding prent help lines or other prents who hve experiened similr risis. 5 Mintin resoure nd referrl linkges to risis servies suh s: Food pntries Domesti violene servies Shelters d Respite re for hildren e Alohol nd sustne use servies f Mentl helth servies g Eonomi supports h Legl ssistne Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 6-1

12 strtegy six: respond to fmily rises Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Respond to Fmily Crises Chek one ox I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue of Doing 6 Respond to fmily rises s soon s possile y: Prolem solving with the fmily out immedite needs nd options. Clling on other prents, fmily memers, emergeny ontts, or others to step in t the fmily hild re home or to help ddress the fmily s needs diretly. Helping the fmily ess pproprite ommunity support servies. 7 Prtiipte in trining opportunities out wys to respond to fmilies in risis. 8 Provide trining to stff or fmily memers who ssist in the progrm so they know how to respond ppropritely to fmily rises. Trining is provided on issues suh s: Mintining onfidentility. Resolving onflits. Tlking to fmilies out diffiult issues. d Reognizing prolems suh s domesti violene, depression, developmentl delys, mentl illness, hroni helth prolems, sustne use, nd other signs of imminent risis. e Helping fmilies mke immedite nd long-term plns. f Referring n issue to the fmily hild re provider if prent hs onern tht fmily or stff memer feels is eyond their ility to hndle. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 6-2

13 strtegy seven: oserve nd respond to erly wrning signs of use or neglet Chek one ox Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Oserve nd Respond to Wrning Signs of Child Ause nd Neglet I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue 1 Look for the following signs tht fmily my e under stress: Child ehvior suh s ting out, distress, or hllenging ehviors, Unusul prentl ehvior t pik-up or drop-off. Repeted unexplined senes. d Repeted unusul lte pik-ups. e More missed pyments thn usul. f Divore, jo loss, or other fmily rises. g Prents knowledge or show signs of stress. 2 Oserve how prents tret nd tlk with their hild nd the hild s ehvior round prents. 3 Oserve how hildren re dressed, how len they re, if they re hungry, or if they re over-tired. 4 Notie ruises nd uts on hildren nd sk them how they got the ruises nd uts. 5 Notie ruises nd uts on the hildren nd sk the prents out them. 6 Be wre of the stte regultions regrding mndted reporters. 7 Hve pln regrding how to report hild use nd neglet. 8 Know how ses re generlly hndled one report is mde. 9 When they enroll hild, inform ll prents--verlly nd in writing--out your sttus s mndted reporter nd the pln regrding hndling suspeted ses of hild use nd neglet. 10 If hild protetive servies report needs to e mde: Notify prents tht report is eing mde, if possile. Explin your sttus s mndted reporter. Explin the reporting proess to the fmily nd wht they n expet in terms of response from the geny. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 7-1

14 strtegy seven: oserve nd respond to erly wrning signs of use or neglet Chek one ox Different Wys Fmily Child Cre Providers Cn Oserve nd Respond to Wrning Signs of Child Ause nd Neglet I Wnt to Lern Aout the Vlue d Try to e ring nd supportive to prents during the reporting proess. e At s n dvote for fmilies with the hild protetive servies system. 11 If report does not need to e mde or if the report ends up unsustntited, help find suitle respite re, emergeny risis servies, home visiting, or edutionl supports for the fmily. 12 If hild is pled in ustody: Mintin ontt with the prent. Advote with the hild welfre deprtment if possile. Help the prent onnet with resoures tht will help them to get their hild k. 13 Red out hild use nd neglet prevention. 14 Prtiipte in trining opportunities out hild use nd neglet prevention nd mndted reporting. Strengthening Fmilies Self-Assessment for Fmily Child Cre Providers 7-2