Family‐Oriented Program Models and Professional Helpgiving Practices^*

Abstract

The relationship between different models of family level interventions and two components of practitioner helpgiving (relational practices and participatory practices) was examined in two studies of parents of young children involved in different kinds of family oriented helpgiving programs. Relational and participatory aspects of helpgiving were found to be practiced less often in professionally centered programs compared to other kinds of family oriented programs. Participatory helpgiving practices that provided parents with (a) choices and options and (b) opportunities to be involved in both solutions to problems and acquisition of knowledge and skills that strengthen functioning were more likely to be found in programs that were family centered. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of the models used to structure social and human services program practices.

Family Empowerment as a Mediator between Family-Centered Systems of Care and Changes in Child Functioning: Identifying an Important Mechanism of Change

“…Based upon previous research and theory (e.g., Dunst et al, 2002;Graves, 2005;Stroul & Friedman, 1996;Taub et al, 2001), we hypothesized that, (1) children's problem behaviors would decrease over a one-year period while levels of family empowerment would increase, (2) greater family perceived fidelity to the family-centered elements of the system of care philosophy would be linked to greater positive change in child functioning, (3) greater levels of family empowerment would be linked to greater positive change in child functioning, and (4) family empowerment would mediate the relationship between family-centered care and positive change in child functioning.…”

“…As a family-centered program model, the system of care philosophy views parents as partners in the treatment process in an effort to facilitate family empowerment (Dunst, Boyd, Trivette, & Hamby, 2002;Stroul & Friedman, 1996). Although there are many elements within familycentered care models in addition to empowerment (e.g., expanding social supports, utilizing family strengths, providing individually-tailored resources, delivering services consistent with cultural values and beliefs), empowerment is viewed by many as being the most important element for treatment success.…”

Evaluación de los servicios de atención a familias de niños con deficiencia. Perspectiva de familiares y profesionales en Brasil

“…A pesar del creciente interés por promover la participación de la familia en estos programas, cuya importancia no es nueva (Aiello, 2004;Campos y Garcia, 2007), los programas orientados a las familias ven lentamente ampliada su relevancia. Fue en los inicios de la década de los 90 cuando la figura de los profesionales, y los modelos de intervención centrados en los profesionales, comenzaron a ceder espacio a la participación más efectiva de las familias, pasando a fortalecerse los modelos de intervención centrados en las familias (Dunst, Boyd, Trivette y Hamby, 2002).…”

“…En los modelos centrados en los profesionales, característicos de la década de los 70 y 80, eran los profesionales los que definían todo el proceso de orientación y las familias eran vistas como menos capaces que los profesionales para elegir y tomar decisiones en cuanto a sí mismas y a sus hijos (Dunst et al, 2002); por tanto, el papel de las familias era aceptar y seguir lo impuesto por los profesionales. Por el contrario, las propuestas de trabajo con familias, basadas en el modelo centrado en la familia, se fundamentan principalmente, en el énfasis sobre la fortaleza/recursos de la familia, y no en sus dificultades, destacando la necesidad de dejar que la familia escoja y tenga control sobre los recursos deseados, generando, así mismo, la colaboración entre ella y los profesionales (Bruder, 2000).…”

Guest editorial: Advancing a family-centered practice agenda in child welfare

“…It is expected that the cultural and personal preferences of the child and family are incorporated into decision making. These principles were recently reaffirmed in a review by Epley et al (2010) and applicability extends beyond child welfare to other practice settings including early intervention (Dunst, Boyd, Trivette, & Hamby, 2002), practice with children facing serious mental health distress (Kilmer, Cook, & Munsell, 2010) and health care (Smith, Swallow, & Coyne, 2015;Wong, 2014).…”