HEAD START®

Caring for Children with
Chronic Conditions

Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community

Table of Contents | Preface | Introduction | Module 1 | Module 2 | Module 3
| Continuing Professional Development | Resources

MODULE 2: Activity 1 - Is This Family-Centered?

Module 2 | Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Key to Activity 3 | Activity 4 | Activity 5 | Activity 6 | Activity 7 | Next Steps

Purpose: This activity helps participants understand the principles of family-centered care and how it applies to caring for children with chronic conditions in their Head Start program.

For this activity you will need:

• Handout I: Family-Centered Services
  
• Handout J: Driving Forces of Services Delivery
  
• Handout K: Is This Family-Centered?
  
• Handout L: How Family-Centered Is Our Program?
  
• Pencils or pens
  
• Flip chart paper and markers or Overhead projector, transparencies, and screen (optional)
  
  Trainer's Preparation Note:
  
  If you are using an overhead projector, copy Handout J: Driving Forces of Service Delivery onto an overhead transparency. If an overhead projector is not available, copy the handout onto flip chart paper.

1. Explain that this activity will help participants consider how Head Start services can better meet the needs of families that have children with chronic conditions.
   
2. Distribute Handout I: Family-Centered Services. Ask participants:
   
3. How do these principles compare to the principles of family involvement in Head Start?

This makes enough cards for 45 participants. If there are more participants in this activity, make two copies each of Handouts A-1, A-2, and A-3.

Step 1:

Explain that this activity will help participants consider how Head Start services can better meet the needs of families that have children with chronic conditions.

Step 2:

Distribute Handout I: Family-Centered Services. Ask participants:

• How do these principles compare to the principles of family involvement in Head Start?

Step 3: Explain that this activity helps participants experience what chronic conditions mean, particularly how they feel, from everyone's perspective–the child, parent, and Head Start staff–based on their own characteristics and circumstances.

Display the overhead transparency or flip chart version of Handout J: Driving Forces of Service Delivery. Review the definitions of "system-centered," "child-centered," and "family- centered" services.

Explain that Head Start services are generally done for the benefit of the child and family as well as for requirements of the system under the Performance Standards. While there may be more than one driving force, the needs and convenience of one party often predominates in the way the service is provided. (For example, delivering services at home tends to be more family-centered whereas delivering services at the Head Start center tends to be more system-centered.)

Ask participants:

• What are some examples of specific Head Start services that demonstrate each driving force?

Step 4:

Divide participants into small groups of four to five people. Distribute Handout K: Is This Family-Centered? Instruct the groups to analyze each of the services and decide if it is primarily system-centered, child-centered, or family-centered. Be prepared to explain the decision. Allow 10-15 minutes.

Step 5:

Bring the groups back together. Have each group share their response to each statement and their reasons in a round-robin fashion. Remember, groups may identify different driving forces for some of the services.

Step 6:

Distribute Handout L: How Family-Centered Is Our Program? Have participants return to their small groups. Instruct them to take a few minutes to discuss the services their program provides for children with chronic conditions and their families. Then, using the handout as a guide, complete the middle column with specific ways their program provides family-centered services; and complete the right column with ways their program could be even more family-centered.

Allow approximately 20 minutes.

Step 7:

Bring the groups back together. Proceed through the seven components of family-centered services, asking each group to share (from the middle column) one way that they currently do this. Congratulate each other.

Step 8:

Proceed again through the seven components of family-centered services, asking each group to share (from the right column) one way their program could do it better. List these on flip chart paper.

Have participants agree on one or two suggested improvements that are most important and/or most achievable. Have them work together to develop actions steps to bring about the improvement.

Points to Consider:

• Family-centered care is neither a destination nor something that services instantly become–it is the continual pursuit of being responsive to the priorities and choices of families. We should continue to ask ourselves:
  
  – Why are we doing things this way?
  
  – Is this the only way to do it?
  
  – Is there a better way to do it?
  
  Recognizing what drives our practices allows us to imagine new possibilities and provide services in a more family-centered way.
  
• The Head Start Program is a large system with many requirements under the Performance Standards. But there is flexibility in how each program implements services. Each program can aim to provide quality services in a responsive, family-centered way.