Week 1 - Family Centered Practice

Question 1

What are the 6 F words in childhood disability?

Answer 1

Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Future, Friends

Question 2

What are some normative events during a child’s transitions in life?

Answer 2

Exams, Graduation, Passing of grandparents

Question 3

What are some non-normative events during a child’s transition in life?

Answer 3

Loss of sibling, parents, divorce

Question 4

What are some concerns when a child reaches school age?

Answer 4

• Widening of gap within child’s performance with peers
• Family receiving lesser support
• Friends

Question 5

What are some concerns when a child reaches adolescent age?

Answer 5

• Increased stigma from peers
• Growing social, financial and sexual needs of child
• Parents being more concerned about child’s vulnerability to peers & school
• Difficulty in physical & emotional needs of child

Question 6

What are some family resources required for child with special needs?

Answer 6

• Human resource: caregiver / helper
• Time resource: lesser time for CG to socialise & engage in recreational activities; require more structure & organization
• Financial resource: on-going expenses from services / childcare; reduced income from parent quitting job to take care of child
• Emotional energy resource: exhaustion, caregiver burnout, depression, anxiety, stress relating to resources required

Question 7

What is family-centred service?

Answer 7

To help children with special needs and their families to make informed decisions about the support and services that they need

Question 8

Family centred service recognises that

Answer 8

• Each family is unique
• The family is the constant in the child’s life
• Families are the experts in the child’s abilities and needs

Question 9

How can we work with families to develop child’s independence in self-care & health maintenance routines?

Answer 9

• Adapting daily routines to conserve energy
• Strategies in increasing child’s independence in self-care
• Embedding strategies into daily routines

Question 10

How can we work with families to increase socialisation & participation in social activities?

Answer 10

• Being aware of the recreational opportunities available
• Suggesting strategies to enhance family participation in recreational activities

Question 11

How can we foster family’s readiness for community living?

Answer 11

• Providing them with the information needed
• Helping to advocate for the child

Question 12

What does partnering with families look like?

Answer 12

• Establishing a partnership: building trust
• Providing helpful information: diagnosis information
• Providing flexible, accessible & responsive services

Question 13

What are the 5 steps to blending therapy into home routines?

Answer 13

1. Establishing collaborative partnership with parent & child
2. Facilitate parent & child to set goals to work at home
3. Choosing evidence-based interventions that matches goals
4. Provide regular support and coaching to family to identify improvements & adjustments
5. Evaluating outcomes together

Question 14

Hui process for conversation

Answer 14

1. Introduction: greeting & introduction
2. Making a connection: sharing about yourself, showing interest
3. Main discussion: plan for the session
4. Closing: check if they have any questions, outline what you are going to do next, check what are their next steps