IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIRIT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR101: 101:

INVOLVING FAMILIES in INVOLVING FAMILIES in THEIR CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARETHEIR CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE

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WORKSHOP OBJECTIVESWORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able toParticipants will be able to AssessAssess self interest and identify why it is important to self interest and identify why it is important to

engage families in SBHCsengage families in SBHCs UnderstandUnderstand the different levels and strategies of family the different levels and strategies of family

engagement within a SBHCengagement within a SBHC FosterFoster pro-active reflection, planning and behavioral pro-active reflection, planning and behavioral

incorporation of a multicultural lens within their family incorporation of a multicultural lens within their family engagement processengagement process

IdentifyIdentify 10 resources they can use to assess, plan, 10 resources they can use to assess, plan, and implement parent engagement/involvement and implement parent engagement/involvement strategies.strategies.

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Background PerspectiveBackground Perspective

Annie E. Casey Study on SBHCs helping Annie E. Casey Study on SBHCs helping parents talk with children about reproductive parents talk with children about reproductive health care.health care.

– Study intentStudy intent: identify best practices: identify best practices– Study findingsStudy findings: no list of best practices: no list of best practices– Parent EngagementParent Engagement is a process is a process– Supported by good curriculums and Supported by good curriculums and

processprocess

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FindingsFindings

School-based Health Centers are School-based Health Centers are ideally situated to assist in a broader, ideally situated to assist in a broader, comprehensive approach to parental comprehensive approach to parental engagement. Their expertise in health engagement. Their expertise in health and social issues, including sex and and social issues, including sex and reproduction, would be an important reproduction, would be an important asset. They may be able to lead these asset. They may be able to lead these efforts, but it is likely that they must be efforts, but it is likely that they must be part of a larger endeavor.part of a larger endeavor.

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Where are you when it comes to Where are you when it comes to Family Engagement?Family Engagement?

Not a quiz you can study forNot a quiz you can study forTongue in cheekTongue in cheekEncourages a discussionEncourages a discussionMaybe a chuckle or twoMaybe a chuckle or twoKeep track of your answersKeep track of your answers

– a, b, c, da, b, c, d

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Scoring GuideScoring Key:Scoring Key: ““a” = 1 pointa” = 1 point # of “a” answers ___ x 1 = _____# of “a” answers ___ x 1 = _____ ““b” = 2 pointsb” = 2 points # of “b” answers ___ x 2 = _____# of “b” answers ___ x 2 = _____ ““c” = 3 pointsc” = 3 points # of “c” answers ___ x 3 = _____# of “c” answers ___ x 3 = _____ ““d” = 4 pointsd” = 4 points # of “d” answers ___ x 4 = _____# of “d” answers ___ x 4 = _____ Total Points =_____Total Points =_____

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Where are you?

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Role playRole play

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Why involve families?Why involve families?BECAUSE WE ARE PARTNERS IN THE WELFARE OF THEIR CHILDREN. Communication is good. Be transparent with families. Advocacy – you need to be valued by families, and they

will advocate for you. Involvement with school - can help you find YOUR

voice in the school. They can speak where you cannot. Understand their needs, concerns, lifestyles – so you

can help heal them. If you don’t know their needs and problems, how can you suggest to them solutions? Your solutions need to be relevant to them.

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DiscussionDiscussion

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Relational engagement: Relational engagement: Going on a scavenger huntGoing on a scavenger hunt

Interests beyond the SBHCInterests beyond the SBHCOther health care concernsOther health care concernsOther community concernsOther community concerns Involvement in the communityInvolvement in the communityNetwork of family and friendsNetwork of family and friendsProfessional interestsProfessional interests

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Why?Why?New connections to the communityNew connections to the communityUnderstand their interests to best Understand their interests to best

connect them to the SBHC and their connect them to the SBHC and their child’s healthchild’s health

Deeper understanding of the Deeper understanding of the community concerns and how SBHCs community concerns and how SBHCs are a part of the solutionsare a part of the solutions

If you don’t, they won’t stick around… If you don’t, they won’t stick around…

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What Do I ask?What Do I ask? What are the most important health care What are the most important health care

issues for you and your family? And why?issues for you and your family? And why? How can/does the school-based health How can/does the school-based health

center help with them?center help with them? What are the biggest concerns facing the What are the biggest concerns facing the

school and the community?school and the community? Are there solutions being sought?Are there solutions being sought?

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More questions…More questions… What community activities or organizations are

you part of? (including places of worship) Why are you involved with them/ what do you

enjoy about your involvement? What is your vision of how the community could

be better? Do you have a role in making that happen?

Does the SBHC have a role in making that happen?

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And a few more…And a few more…

What are your dreams for your What are your dreams for your children’s future?children’s future?

What are your dreams for your future? What are your dreams for your future? (professionally, health, family, (professionally, health, family, academically, public involvement)academically, public involvement)

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TipsTips Ask more ‘Why’ questionsAsk more ‘Why’ questions Share something from your life with themShare something from your life with them Don’t give up: It will take a lot of conversations Don’t give up: It will take a lot of conversations

to find an interested family memberto find an interested family member Take notes after your conversationsTake notes after your conversations Keep a log of common gathering places and Keep a log of common gathering places and

activitiesactivities Be genuinely interested about their lives Be genuinely interested about their lives

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Levels of EngagementLevels of Engagement Individual:Individual: Actively informed about and part of Actively informed about and part of

the healthcare decisions of their child the healthcare decisions of their child Center:Center: Active in the governance and clinic Active in the governance and clinic

level activitieslevel activities Advocacy:Advocacy: Active in advocacy for the Active in advocacy for the

sustainability for the clinic and other related sustainability for the clinic and other related policy initiativespolicy initiatives

State/ national governance:State/ national governance: Involved with the Involved with the state association and/or national state association and/or national

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Strategies for EngagementStrategies for EngagementThe revolving doorThe revolving door Ongoing engagementOngoing engagement

Leadership developmentLeadership development

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Learning about the communityLearning about the community Historical contextHistorical context Economic and politic issuesEconomic and politic issues Cultural and tradition-specific areasCultural and tradition-specific areas Medical orientationMedical orientation DietDiet ReligionReligion

For detailed questions:http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/sub_section_tools_1163.htm

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Walking through the doorWalking through the doorGO TO WHERE THEY ARE… Where do they gather? (soccer games, church, Where do they gather? (soccer games, church,

etc)etc) What are their interests and needs as guardians?What are their interests and needs as guardians? What could meet their needs?What could meet their needs? Youth-centered community organizations?Youth-centered community organizations? With which groups and activities are the students With which groups and activities are the students

in your center involved?in your center involved?

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Additional TipsAdditional TipsDecide who the best messenger is. It Decide who the best messenger is. It

doesn’t always have to be you and doesn’t always have to be you and often shouldn’t be. often shouldn’t be.

HAVE A PLAN.HAVE A PLAN. It will help with It will help with retention and recruitment. Others want retention and recruitment. Others want to get involved with something to get involved with something organized. Word of mouth works too!organized. Word of mouth works too!

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Where to start…Where to start… Brainstorm all of the community organizations, Brainstorm all of the community organizations,

churches, and neighborhoods where the churches, and neighborhoods where the families of the students may gather.families of the students may gather.

Determine who from the SBHC and school Determine who from the SBHC and school community could represent the interests and community could represent the interests and needs of the SBHC. needs of the SBHC.

Decide the first three steps you can take to Decide the first three steps you can take to make connections with the targeted list above.make connections with the targeted list above.

Putting it into Practice Attending open houses Attending Registrations Sitting and talking in the waiting room Parents engagement in handing out fliers and

information Speaking to different organizations, groups,

school administration ect Providing asthma education to parents Involvement in advisory boards Relationship building with your school

administrators and board members

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LeadershipLeadership

"Trust men and they will be true to you: "Trust men and they will be true to you: treat them greatly and they will show treat them greatly and they will show

themselves great.“themselves great.“

— — Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson