Bill MadsenBill MadsenFamily-Centered Services ProjectFamily-Centered Services Project

www.family-centeredservices.orgwww.family-centeredservices.orgmadsen1@comcast.netmadsen1@comcast.net

Welcome toWelcome to

Collaborative Helping:Collaborative Helping:A Simple Map to TransformA Simple Map to Transform

Relational PositioningRelational Positioning

Plan for our Time Plan for our Time TogetherTogether

Examining the Terrain of Frontline Examining the Terrain of Frontline WorkWork

Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Worker ThinkingWorker Thinking

Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Conversations with Families Conversations with Families

Collaborative Helping Maps to Collaborative Helping Maps to Supervisory ConversationsSupervisory Conversations

Summary and Wrap-upSummary and Wrap-up

Overview of Collaborative Overview of Collaborative HelpingHelping

An integrative principle-based An integrative principle-based practice framework for helpingpractice framework for helping

Emphasizes the relational stance we Emphasizes the relational stance we take with the people we servetake with the people we serve

Grounded in a story metaphor Grounded in a story metaphor Organized around inquiry – our Organized around inquiry – our

expertise is the ability to ask expertise is the ability to ask compelling questions compelling questions

Collaborative Helping Collaborative Helping

Draws from:Draws from: Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry Motivational InterviewingMotivational Interviewing Narrative, Solution-Focused, and Narrative, Solution-Focused, and

Collaborative Therapy ApproachesCollaborative Therapy Approaches ““Signs of Safety” work in CPS Signs of Safety” work in CPS The reported experiences of families.The reported experiences of families.

The Terrain of our Work and The Terrain of our Work and the Usefulness of Principle-the Usefulness of Principle-Based Practice FrameworksBased Practice Frameworks

Decision-Making in Family-Decision-Making in Family-Centered PracticeCentered Practice

This work is messy. It often demands that we focus This work is messy. It often demands that we focus on the exception rather than the rule. At the same on the exception rather than the rule. At the same time, it is important that helping responses are time, it is important that helping responses are grounded in a clearly articulated set of grounded in a clearly articulated set of assumptions and principles. assumptions and principles.

Efforts to bring order and certainty to work Efforts to bring order and certainty to work characterized by unpredictability run the risk of characterized by unpredictability run the risk of “missing the point.” We need to (re)discover our “missing the point.” We need to (re)discover our traditional strengths in working with ambiguity, traditional strengths in working with ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity. (Parton and O’Byrne; uncertainty and complexity. (Parton and O’Byrne; 2000)2000)

Two approaches along a Two approaches along a continuum of managing the continuum of managing the inherent uncertainty of this inherent uncertainty of this

workwork

Command and control social work, Command and control social work, reactive managerialism, blame reactive managerialism, blame prevention engineering and prevention engineering and “protocolization.”“protocolization.”

Development of reflective judgment and Development of reflective judgment and principle-based embracing of ambiguity, principle-based embracing of ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity.uncertainty and complexity.

Technical and Adaptive Technical and Adaptive ProblemsProblems

(Ronald Heifetz – Leadership without Easy Answers)(Ronald Heifetz – Leadership without Easy Answers) A A technical problemtechnical problem yields a right answer yields a right answer

through the through the applicationapplication of an appropriate and pre- of an appropriate and pre-made plan. Most textbook problem sets in made plan. Most textbook problem sets in mathematics, science, engineering, or business mathematics, science, engineering, or business feature technical problems that have right answers feature technical problems that have right answers that “fit” the problem.that “fit” the problem.

An An adaptive problemadaptive problem doesn’t have a clear, pre- doesn’t have a clear, pre-made particular or certain answer. Adaptive made particular or certain answer. Adaptive problems are real world problems where data is problems are real world problems where data is conflicting or ambiguous, where disputants conflicting or ambiguous, where disputants reasonably disagree about appropriate actions to reasonably disagree about appropriate actions to resolve the problem, or where values are in resolve the problem, or where values are in conflict. conflict.

Technical ProblemsTechnical Problems

•How do you transport large quantities of How do you transport large quantities of food to impoverished areas of the world?food to impoverished areas of the world?•How do you fix a clutch for a car?How do you fix a clutch for a car?•How do you take care of a broken leg?How do you take care of a broken leg?How do you collect demographic information How do you collect demographic information on people served?on people served?

With technical problems, the solution is, for With technical problems, the solution is, for the most part, already known. Technical the most part, already known. Technical problems were once adaptive problems that problems were once adaptive problems that now have clear answers. The process here is now have clear answers. The process here is knowing what technical solution is needed knowing what technical solution is needed and putting into action.and putting into action.

Adaptive ProblemsAdaptive Problems• How will we get the economy moving again?How will we get the economy moving again?• How can/should we respond to terrorism today?How can/should we respond to terrorism today?• How should I respond to my son or daughter being How should I respond to my son or daughter being

teased at school?teased at school?• How do you respond to a teenage girl who alleges How do you respond to a teenage girl who alleges

incest and then recants?incest and then recants?

With adaptive problems, the “terrain” of the problem With adaptive problems, the “terrain” of the problem may be shifting, and an approach to learning about may be shifting, and an approach to learning about the problem may be as important as anything else. the problem may be as important as anything else. Encouraging an environment of learning and Encouraging an environment of learning and experimentation is keyexperimentation is key..

A Common ErrorA Common Error

Confusing technical and adaptive Confusing technical and adaptive problems and attempting to apply problems and attempting to apply technical solutions to adaptive technical solutions to adaptive problems.problems.

Disciplined ImprovisationDisciplined Improvisation

Responding to the “messiness” of everyday Responding to the “messiness” of everyday practice often requires on-going learning with practice often requires on-going learning with flexibility and improvisation.flexibility and improvisation.

““Improvisation is too important to be left to Improvisation is too important to be left to chance” – Paul Simon chance” – Paul Simon

Disciplined Improvisation – Developing flexible Disciplined Improvisation – Developing flexible maps to operationalize family-centered values maps to operationalize family-centered values and principles the everyday “messiness” of and principles the everyday “messiness” of practicepractice

Usefulness of MapsUsefulness of Maps

Conceptual maps can focus and Conceptual maps can focus and organize workers’ organize workers’ thinkingthinking about about complex situationscomplex situations

Conceptual maps can serve as a Conceptual maps can serve as a vehicle for constructive vehicle for constructive conversationsconversations between workers and between workers and familiesfamilies

Organizing VisionOrganizing VisionWhere do you want to be headed in your Where do you want to be headed in your

life?life?

ObstaclesObstaclesWhat gets in the way?What gets in the way?

SupportsSupportsWhat supports you ?What supports you ?

PlanPlanWhat needs to happen?What needs to happen?

Drawing on Supports to address Drawing on Supports to address Obstacles to get to VisionObstacles to get to Vision

Collaborative Helping Map

Beginning with a Beginning with a Foundation of Engagement Foundation of Engagement

and Connectionand Connection

Relational StanceRelational StanceThe Nucleus of our WorkThe Nucleus of our Work

Helping Practices – Helping Practices – What we What we do do with peoplewith people

Conceptual Maps –Conceptual Maps –How we How we thinkthink about about people and problemspeople and problems

Relational stance – Relational stance – How we How we areare with people with people

Building a Foundation of Building a Foundation of Family EngagementFamily Engagement

Getting to know family members in Getting to know family members in ways that humanize them, build ways that humanize them, build connection with them and encourage connection with them and encourage hope for shared work, while keeping hope for shared work, while keeping important issues on the table.important issues on the table.

Using Collaborative Helping Using Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Worker Maps to Enhance Worker

ThinkingThinking Community-based work is often Community-based work is often

characterized by ambiguity, uncertainty characterized by ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity with significant and complexity with significant messiness and little external structure.messiness and little external structure.

Collaborative Helping maps can provide Collaborative Helping maps can provide a simple way to help organize and focus a simple way to help organize and focus our thinking about complex situations.our thinking about complex situations.

Organizing VisionOrganizing VisionCleClear, proactive, meaningful visionar, proactive, meaningful vision

Foundation of motivation, resourcefulness, Foundation of motivation, resourcefulness, communitycommunity

ObstaclesObstacles Individual, relational, and socio-Individual, relational, and socio-

cultural levelscultural levels Framed to Framed to SeparateSeparate problems problems

from peoplefrom people

SupportsSupports Individual, relational and Individual, relational and

socio-cultural levelssocio-cultural levels Framed to Framed to ConnectConnect

people to intentions and people to intentions and sense of agencysense of agency

PlanPlanClear, proactive, meaningful planClear, proactive, meaningful plan

Engaging natural community to support Engaging natural community to support planplan

Organizing VisionOrganizing VisionWhere do you want to be Where do you want to be

headed in your life?headed in your life?

Helping People Envision Preferred Helping People Envision Preferred Directions in LifeDirections in Life

Envisioning a non-problematic future.Envisioning a non-problematic future.

Focusing on preferred coping in a Focusing on preferred coping in a difficult present.difficult present.

Important Aspects of Important Aspects of Organizing VisionOrganizing Vision

It is important that:It is important that:

We help families develop a clear, proactive, We help families develop a clear, proactive, mutually shared, concrete vision.mutually shared, concrete vision.

We help to build a foundation of motivation, We help to build a foundation of motivation, resourcefulness and community for this resourcefulness and community for this vision.vision.

Questions to Help People Questions to Help People Develop an Organizing Develop an Organizing

VisionVision Beginning at the endBeginning at the end Appreciative Inquiry questionsAppreciative Inquiry questions Complaint to commitment questionsComplaint to commitment questions Story in 20 years questionStory in 20 years question Finding a vision that is important Finding a vision that is important

when nothing else is.when nothing else is.

Vision Statements Vision Statements in CPS Contextsin CPS Contexts

When your kids are 25, what do you When your kids are 25, what do you hope that they will be saying about hope that they will be saying about their childhood and about you as their childhood and about you as their parent if someone asked about their parent if someone asked about their upbringing? their upbringing?

Questions to Build a Questions to Build a Foundation of Motivation, Foundation of Motivation,

Resourcefulness and Resourcefulness and CommunityCommunity

Why is this vision important to you?Why is this vision important to you?

When have you been more able to When have you been more able to ground your work in this vision?ground your work in this vision?

Who in your life might appreciate and Who in your life might appreciate and support you in pursuing this vision?support you in pursuing this vision?

Organizing VisionOrganizing Vision

MMutually shared, proactive, meaningful and utually shared, proactive, meaningful and concreteconcrete

Foundation of motivation, resourcefulness, Foundation of motivation, resourcefulness, communitycommunity

ObstaclesObstacles

What gets in the way of What gets in the way of the vision?the vision?

SupportsSupports

What contributes What contributes to the vision?to the vision?

PlanPlan

What do we need to do next?What do we need to do next?

Some Examples of Some Examples of Obstacles and SupportsObstacles and Supports

Obstacles:Obstacles: ProblemsProblems Experiences and feelingsExperiences and feelings Old Habits and practices Old Habits and practices Constraining Constraining

interpersonal interpersonal interactions (vicious interactions (vicious cycles)cycles)

Beliefs, lifestyles, life Beliefs, lifestyles, life stories stories

Dilemmas and difficult Dilemmas and difficult situationssituations

Broader constraining Broader constraining cultural expectationscultural expectations

Supports:Supports: Abilities, Skills and Abilities, Skills and

KnowledgeKnowledge Counter habits and Counter habits and

practicespractices Sustaining interpersonal Sustaining interpersonal

interactions (virtuous interactions (virtuous cycles) cycles)

Intentions, values, Intentions, values, hopes, and hopes, and commitmentscommitments

Supportive community Supportive community membersmembers

Broader sustaining Broader sustaining cultural expectations cultural expectations

Important Aspects of Important Aspects of Obstacles and SupportsObstacles and Supports

Eliciting obstacles at Eliciting obstacles at individual, individual, relational, and relational, and socio-cultural levelssocio-cultural levels

Describing obstacles Describing obstacles in a way that in a way that separatesseparates problems problems from peoplefrom people

Eliciting supports at Eliciting supports at individual, individual, relational and relational and socio-cultural levelssocio-cultural levels

Describing supports Describing supports in a way that in a way that connects connects people to people to their intentions and their intentions and sense of agencysense of agency

Viewing People as Being in Viewing People as Being in a Relationship with a Relationship with

ObstaclesObstacles

People are in an on-going and People are in an on-going and changeable relationship with changeable relationship with Obstacles.Obstacles.

The Person is not problematic. The The Person is not problematic. The Obstacle or the Person’s with the Obstacle or the Person’s with the Obstacle is problematic.Obstacle is problematic.

Re-Thinking Obstacles and Re-Thinking Obstacles and SupportsSupports

ObstaclesObstaclesOrganizingOrganizing

VisionVision SupportsSupports

Questions around Questions around ObstaclesObstacles

What are some things that can get in the way of or What are some things that can get in the way of or pull you away from your preferred direction in life?pull you away from your preferred direction in life?

How do you notice it when those things show up in How do you notice it when those things show up in your life?your life?

What effects can those things have on your life and What effects can those things have on your life and relationships?relationships?

What do you think about those effects? How do What do you think about those effects? How do they suit you? Would you prefer that they are they suit you? Would you prefer that they are more present in your life or more absent from it?more present in your life or more absent from it?

Questions around Questions around SupportsSupports

What are some of the things that support you in What are some of the things that support you in moving towards your preferred direction in life?moving towards your preferred direction in life?

When things are going better in your family, what When things are going better in your family, what does that look like? If we had a videotape of you does that look like? If we had a videotape of you folks at your best, what would we see?folks at your best, what would we see?

What strengths, capacities, resources do you What strengths, capacities, resources do you bring that might be helpful in pursuing this vision?bring that might be helpful in pursuing this vision?

How do you put those into practice in your life? How do you put those into practice in your life? What helps you do that?What helps you do that?

Organizing VisionOrganizing VisionMMutually shared, proactive, meaningful and utually shared, proactive, meaningful and

concreteconcreteFoundation of motivation, resourcefulness, Foundation of motivation, resourcefulness,

communitycommunity

ObstaclesObstaclesIndividual, relational, and Individual, relational, and

socio-cultural levelssocio-cultural levelsExternalizes problemsExternalizes problems

SupportsSupportsIndividual, relational and Individual, relational and

socio-cultural levelssocio-cultural levelsInternalizes agencyInternalizes agency

PlanPlanClear, proactive, mutually agreed upon Clear, proactive, mutually agreed upon

planplanConcretely specifies who will do what Concretely specifies who will do what Engages natural community to support Engages natural community to support

planplan

Important Aspects of Important Aspects of PlanPlan

It is important that:It is important that:

We help families develop a clear, We help families develop a clear, proactive, mutually shared plan that proactive, mutually shared plan that clearly specifies who will do what.clearly specifies who will do what.

We work to identify and engage families’ We work to identify and engage families’ natural communities to support that plan.natural communities to support that plan.

Some Questions to Help Some Questions to Help Develop a PlanDevelop a Plan

As you remember the vision that you As you remember the vision that you developed, what makes that particular developed, what makes that particular vision important to you?vision important to you?

As you look at the various obstacles and As you look at the various obstacles and supports we’ve identified, which ones supports we’ve identified, which ones seem like the best ones to start with? seem like the best ones to start with? Would you prefer to begin by addressing Would you prefer to begin by addressing particular obstacles, drawing on particular particular obstacles, drawing on particular supports of some combination of both?supports of some combination of both?

If Beginning with If Beginning with Obstacles:Obstacles:

As you think about this particular obstacles, are As you think about this particular obstacles, are there times when you have been more successful there times when you have been more successful in responding to it, coping with it, resisting it?in responding to it, coping with it, resisting it?

How did you do that and what helped you to do How did you do that and what helped you to do that?that?

What thoughts do you have about the next What thoughts do you have about the next concrete steps that you might take?concrete steps that you might take?

Who might be available to help and support you Who might be available to help and support you in that process?in that process?

If Beginning with If Beginning with Supports:Supports:

As you think about this particular support, As you think about this particular support, how has it sustained you? How have you how has it sustained you? How have you drawn on it? What steps did you take to drawn on it? What steps did you take to do that?do that?

What does that suggest to you about What does that suggest to you about possible next steps?possible next steps?

Who might be available to help and Who might be available to help and support you in that process?support you in that process?

Using Collaborative Helping Using Collaborative Helping Maps to Enhance Maps to Enhance

Conversations with FamiliesConversations with Families

Collaborative Helping maps can also Collaborative Helping maps can also guide conversations between workers guide conversations between workers and families about challenging issues and families about challenging issues in ways that minimize polarization in ways that minimize polarization and defensiveness and opens space and defensiveness and opens space for reflection and consideration of for reflection and consideration of alternative possibilities. alternative possibilities.

Use of Collaborative Use of Collaborative Helping Map with a Helping Map with a Reluctant FamilyReluctant Family

Comments from a CPS Comments from a CPS Worker on Utility of CH Worker on Utility of CH maps for Conversations maps for Conversations with reluctant familieswith reluctant families

Usefulness of Beginning w/ Usefulness of Beginning w/ VisionVision

I think it offers opportunities for them to see that I think it offers opportunities for them to see that this is actually possible, so that there’s a possibility this is actually possible, so that there’s a possibility out there for you to get to where you want to be. out there for you to get to where you want to be. And then when you start talking about what’s And then when you start talking about what’s getting in the way of getting to that, then people can getting in the way of getting to that, then people can kind of get their head around well this obstacle is in kind of get their head around well this obstacle is in my way and what do we need to do to address that my way and what do we need to do to address that obstacle and what supports you in addressing that – obstacle and what supports you in addressing that – I think this becomes do-able to them. Starting with I think this becomes do-able to them. Starting with the end in mind. When you’re having these kinds of the end in mind. When you’re having these kinds of conversations with families and you’re serious, conversations with families and you’re serious, they’re not saying I want to live in a 5 million dollar they’re not saying I want to live in a 5 million dollar home and own a yacht. They’re saying, I want my home and own a yacht. They’re saying, I want my kids to be happy and healthy and stable. That’s do-kids to be happy and healthy and stable. That’s do-able. able.

Effects on FamilyEffects on Family

My guess is . . . calm. The word calm came to My guess is . . . calm. The word calm came to mind when you asked that question. It calmed mind when you asked that question. It calmed them down. I mean the Dad’s vision is of his them down. I mean the Dad’s vision is of his siblings being taken away and put in foster care siblings being taken away and put in foster care from his youth. And so I think everybody from his youth. And so I think everybody calmed down when we started talking about calmed down when we started talking about what do what do youyou want for your kids and what is want for your kids and what is your your vision for your kids and how can vision for your kids and how can I I help you get help you get there? It didn’t involve taking kids out of the there? It didn’t involve taking kids out of the home. I think it just helped them simplify and home. I think it just helped them simplify and calm down. calm down.

Effects on EngagementEffects on Engagement

Personally, as much as I can in my work, I do Personally, as much as I can in my work, I do try to see this as a collaboration with the family try to see this as a collaboration with the family and not something I’m doing to them. So, and not something I’m doing to them. So, when you’re talking about their hope and where when you’re talking about their hope and where they want to be headed and how they’re going they want to be headed and how they’re going to get there and who can help them and what’s to get there and who can help them and what’s the plan for that – what’s getting in the way the plan for that – what’s getting in the way and how are we going to address that - we’re and how are we going to address that - we’re working together and we’re collaborating on working together and we’re collaborating on reaching a goal. This never came across to reaching a goal. This never came across to them as something I was doing to them. them as something I was doing to them.

Sample Letter that documented a Sample Letter that documented a conversation with a family and conversation with a family and was sent to the parents after was sent to the parents after

initial conversation. A letter was initial conversation. A letter was sent to Mother and Father. sent to Mother and Father.

Sample following is sample of Sample following is sample of Father’s letter.Father’s letter.

Dear Tom, Dear Tom, I am writing this letter to share back with you some I am writing this letter to share back with you some of the things we talked about in our meeting of the things we talked about in our meeting yesterday. Hopefully this letter will help to support yesterday. Hopefully this letter will help to support the vision you have for your family's future and the vision you have for your family's future and encourage you down that path.encourage you down that path.We talked about your upbringing and how being We talked about your upbringing and how being involved with CPS and watching your siblings being involved with CPS and watching your siblings being taken away really messed with your head. You taken away really messed with your head. You stated that your mom had a terrible gambling stated that your mom had a terrible gambling problem and because of this, she was unable to problem and because of this, she was unable to meet her children's needs. You talked about how meet her children's needs. You talked about how you want to flip around your experience as a kid you want to flip around your experience as a kid and do the exact opposite with your own kids. You and do the exact opposite with your own kids. You said that your upbringing with your mom was said that your upbringing with your mom was negative, but your upbringing with your dad was negative, but your upbringing with your dad was positive. You said that because of your experience, positive. You said that because of your experience, you became very independent and motivated to not you became very independent and motivated to not be like your mom. You said that you don't want your be like your mom. You said that you don't want your kids not knowing if they will have electricity or kids not knowing if they will have electricity or clothing.clothing.

Vision/HopeVision/HopeYou stated that fifteen years from You stated that fifteen years from now, you hope your kids will say now, you hope your kids will say that they had fun while growing that they had fun while growing up, that they had everything they up, that they had everything they needed, they had support from needed, they had support from their parents and always knew their parents and always knew that their parents would be there. that their parents would be there. You talked about wanting them to You talked about wanting them to know about hard work and know about hard work and discipline, and you want them to discipline, and you want them to be successful adults some day.be successful adults some day.

SupportsSupportsYou talked about how your dad has been You talked about how your dad has been very supportive of you and that you first very supportive of you and that you first started seeing him when you were about 13 started seeing him when you were about 13 years old. You talked about how he said he years old. You talked about how he said he was disappointed in your bad decision was disappointed in your bad decision making (in the current situation), but he isn't making (in the current situation), but he isn't mad at you. You talked about how you and mad at you. You talked about how you and “Mom” and the kids see him weekly for “Mom” and the kids see him weekly for dinner if not more often. You also talked dinner if not more often. You also talked about how your grandma is a support to you about how your grandma is a support to you and the kids and you have regular contact and the kids and you have regular contact with her as well. You said that everything with her as well. You said that everything about your situation is out on the table, and about your situation is out on the table, and your family and friends know everything. your family and friends know everything. You talked about being motivated because You talked about being motivated because of your past.of your past.

ObstaclesObstaclesTom, you said that your main Tom, you said that your main obstacles to your vision/hope are obstacles to your vision/hope are the bad decisions that you have the bad decisions that you have made, and you are experiencing a made, and you are experiencing a “big bump in the road.” You said “big bump in the road.” You said you realize the obstacles are you realize the obstacles are inconsistent with your hopes for inconsistent with your hopes for your kids.your kids.

PlanPlanI am hoping that our next step will be to I am hoping that our next step will be to develop a plan for overcoming obstacles, develop a plan for overcoming obstacles, maximizing your supports and moving forward maximizing your supports and moving forward in your vision for your family. Typically what we in your vision for your family. Typically what we do here in our department is have meetings do here in our department is have meetings with people's support networks so the extended with people's support networks so the extended family can come up with a plan to help the kids family can come up with a plan to help the kids in a time of need. You are way ahead already in a time of need. You are way ahead already because you have shared everything with your because you have shared everything with your family and friends, and everyone knows what is family and friends, and everyone knows what is going on.going on.

I look forward to our next meeting on Friday at I look forward to our next meeting on Friday at 9:00.9:00.

Sincerely,Sincerely,BethBeth

Usefulness of Letter Usefulness of Letter WritingWriting

I could see people thinking that, but I think the result I could see people thinking that, but I think the result of putting the little extra time in that was worth it of putting the little extra time in that was worth it because I didn’t have to spend the next two months because I didn’t have to spend the next two months trying to build trust with these guys. I did it in one trying to build trust with these guys. I did it in one meeting and one letter (actually two letters because meeting and one letter (actually two letters because I wrote one to each of them). Far less work if you I wrote one to each of them). Far less work if you ask me, however, I like to write. I love writing and so ask me, however, I like to write. I love writing and so if writing is a chore to somebody, I could see the if writing is a chore to somebody, I could see the resistance there to do that if it’s a lot of work. For resistance there to do that if it’s a lot of work. For me, it comes pretty easily and I enjoy doing it. But I me, it comes pretty easily and I enjoy doing it. But I bet that was worth two months of meetings. bet that was worth two months of meetings.

Really, two months?Really, two months? I do, I do think that, particularly because of the I do, I do think that, particularly because of the

history here. history here.

Next StepsNext Steps

Safety Network Meeting w/ Great Grandma, Dad, Safety Network Meeting w/ Great Grandma, Dad, Roommate, Friend, Sister, Friend, Friend, and a Roommate, Friend, Sister, Friend, Friend, and a number of neighbors. number of neighbors.

Beth put up 4 sheets of flip chart paper with Beth put up 4 sheets of flip chart paper with Vision – Obstacles – Supports – Plan and wrote Vision – Obstacles – Supports – Plan and wrote down network thoughtsdown network thoughts

Beth sent write up to everyone in the network Beth sent write up to everyone in the network (with family permission)(with family permission)

Helping People Develop a Helping People Develop a Community of Support for New Community of Support for New

LivesLives It takes a village to raise a new storyIt takes a village to raise a new story If identity is created in social action, it is If identity is created in social action, it is

important to find an appreciative audience important to find an appreciative audience for change. for change.

Recruiting communities of support can Recruiting communities of support can counteract the isolating effects of counteract the isolating effects of problems and help people stay in touch problems and help people stay in touch with preferred versions of who they are in with preferred versions of who they are in life.life.

Developing Communities Developing Communities of Supportof Support

Using re-membering conversations to evoke Using re-membering conversations to evoke the presence of potential allies.the presence of potential allies.

Using reflecting teams or witnessing groups Using reflecting teams or witnessing groups to engage actual audiencesto engage actual audiences

Using written documents to support Using written documents to support witnessingwitnessing

Helping people identify, utilize and sustain Helping people identify, utilize and sustain actual allies in their daily lives.actual allies in their daily lives.

Using Collaborative Helping Using Collaborative Helping Maps to Guide Supervisory Maps to Guide Supervisory

ConversationsConversations

Collaborative Helping maps can also Collaborative Helping maps can also provide a useful framework for provide a useful framework for supervision and consultation supervision and consultation conversations.conversations.

Supervision as InquirySupervision as Inquiry

We can think of supervision as an We can think of supervision as an opportunity to help workers develop opportunity to help workers develop “habits of thought” that enable them to “habits of thought” that enable them to think their way through complex think their way through complex situations.situations.

The Collaborative Helping Map can provide The Collaborative Helping Map can provide supervisors with questions to accomplish supervisors with questions to accomplish this.this.

Three Stages of Three Stages of Supervisory ConversationsSupervisory Conversations

Developing a Shared Focus for a Developing a Shared Focus for a Supervisory ConversationSupervisory Conversation

Content Of a Supervisory Conversation Content Of a Supervisory Conversation

Feedback / Reflection on a Supervisory Feedback / Reflection on a Supervisory ConversationConversation

Questions to Develop a Shared Questions to Develop a Shared Focus for a Supervisory Focus for a Supervisory

ConversationConversation What do you hope to get out of What do you hope to get out of

today’s conversation?today’s conversation?

What might be getting in the way of What might be getting in the way of you being fully present here today?you being fully present here today?

In the midst of everything else going In the midst of everything else going on, how can we make this time as on, how can we make this time as useful as possible for you?useful as possible for you?

Content Of Supervisory Content Of Supervisory Conversation Conversation

Introduction of the FamilyIntroduction of the Family

Agreed Upon FocusAgreed Upon Focus

Obstacles / SupportsObstacles / Supports

Plan – What needs to happen next?Plan – What needs to happen next?

Questions to Introduce the Questions to Introduce the FamilyFamily

Who is in this family?Who is in this family?

How do you think they would like you to introduce How do you think they would like you to introduce them to us?them to us?

What do you particularly respect and appreciate What do you particularly respect and appreciate about them as a family?about them as a family?

What do they particularly appreciate about working What do they particularly appreciate about working with you?with you?

What other concerns would be important for us to What other concerns would be important for us to keep in mind here?keep in mind here?

Questions to Elicit the Questions to Elicit the Agreed upon FocusAgreed upon Focus

In 25 words or less, what might different members of this In 25 words or less, what might different members of this family say their work with you is heading towards?family say their work with you is heading towards?

What might other helpers involved with the family say? What might other helpers involved with the family say? What would you say?What would you say?

What similarities and differences do you notice in these What similarities and differences do you notice in these different descriptions?different descriptions?

On a scale of 0-10, how would family members, you, and On a scale of 0-10, how would family members, you, and other helpers rate progress towards these goals?other helpers rate progress towards these goals?

What similarities and differences do you notice in these What similarities and differences do you notice in these different descriptions?different descriptions?

Questions to Elicit Questions to Elicit Obstacles / SupportsObstacles / Supports

What might different What might different family members and other family members and other helpers say gets in way of helpers say gets in way of things going better things going better towards agreed upon towards agreed upon focus?focus?

What would you say gets What would you say gets in the way of things going in the way of things going better towards agreed better towards agreed upon focus?upon focus?

What similarities and What similarities and differences do you notice?differences do you notice?

What might family members What might family members and others helpers say have and others helpers say have contributed to things going contributed to things going as well as they have towards as well as they have towards agreed upon focus?agreed upon focus?

What would you say has What would you say has contributed to things going contributed to things going as well as they have towards as well as they have towards agreed upon focus?agreed upon focus?

What similarities and What similarities and differences do you notice?differences do you notice?

Questions to Elicit Plan - Next Questions to Elicit Plan - Next StepsSteps

Based on what you’ve heard yourself Based on what you’ve heard yourself saying about vision, obstacles, and saying about vision, obstacles, and supports , what do you think is the next supports , what do you think is the next step to help this family draw on supports step to help this family draw on supports to address obstacles to “live into” vision?to address obstacles to “live into” vision?

Who will do what, when and with whom?Who will do what, when and with whom?

Who else needs to involved? Who else needs to involved?

Feedback / Reflection on Feedback / Reflection on Supervisory ConversationSupervisory Conversation

Plus Plus +

What well in our What well in our meeting today?meeting today?

DeltaDelta ∆

What could we do What could we do to improve it next to improve it next time?time?

Wrap UpWrap Up

FCS represents a shift in FCS represents a shift in how whow we serve e serve families families

CH maps help workers think through complex CH maps help workers think through complex problems and provide a structure for honest, problems and provide a structure for honest, respectful conversations b/t workers and respectful conversations b/t workers and familiesfamilies

Use of CH maps over time promotes a shift in Use of CH maps over time promotes a shift in relational positioning relational positioning

That shift in relational positioning supports the That shift in relational positioning supports the enactment of different life stories and opens enactment of different life stories and opens up new possibilities for familiesup new possibilities for families

Wrap-UpWrap-Up

What from today do you want to What from today do you want to remember and carry back into your remember and carry back into your work?work?

What will help you to do that?What will help you to do that?