What Do We Mean By Family-Centred Service/Care?
As an Occupational Therapist working with Developing Hands Inc., recognition that the children I work with are influenced by personal factors (physical, cognitive, and emotional) as well as environmental factors (physical, social, cultural, and institutional) is essential. Perhaps the most influential, as part of the child’s social environment, is the family. This demands a need for family-centred services and care.
What is family-centred service/care? It consists of the family working with service providers to make informed decisions about what services and care the child and family receive, as the family is recognized as unique and the expert on their child’s and family’s needs and abilities. It is a strengths-based approach to ensure the child and family receive service and care that allows them to achieve their optimal potential. Research evidence also supports the effectiveness of family-centred service for various client outcomes.
Family-centred service/care also fosters capacity building to empower families and their children to advocate for their needs as well as be connected to beneficial supports. Through recognition that families are the experts on their children, it is important to equip families with the tools and resources they need to support their child’s skills development. Additionally, continuity of care is important to maintaining client progress and achieving client outcomes. This includes incorporating recommendations provided by service providers at home, assessing on an ongoing basis what the child’s strengths are and what might be areas of development, and advocating for the child and his/her needs. Since service providers will not be in the child’s life for an infinite amount of time, building the competence and confidence of the family can help to support the client within his/her home environment throughout life.
I would encourage families to work with their service providers, in a collaborative manner, to learn more about how they can support their child at home.
Rammjot Saini OT Reg. (Ont.) – Occupational Therapist
