Transcript THE ASSOCIATION FOR SUCCESSFUL PARENTING: …

THE ASSOCIATION FOR
SUCCESSFUL PARENTING:
ENHANCING THE LIVES OF
FAMILIES WHEN PARENTS
HAVE LEARNING
DIFFICULTIES
Webinar presented on April 12, 2012 for the Arc by:
Bernadette Irwin
Co-President of TASP
[email protected]
Sue Jones
Co-President of TASP
[email protected]
Lindsay Brillhart
TASP Board Member – Chair of Self-Advocacy Committee
[email protected]
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GOALS FOR TODAY….
 HEAR FROM TWO PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
PARENTS WITH ID
 HEAR FROM A PARENT ON THE
CHALLENGES/JOYS OF PARENTING
 LEARN ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION FOR
SUCCESSFUL PARENTING: ENHANCING THE
LIVES OF FAMILIES WHEN PARENTS HAVE
LEARNING DIFFICULTIES
 IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN
PROVIDING SERVIES TO PARENTS WITH ID
 Q/A
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TWO PROGRAM MODELS
 Bernadette Irwin, The Growing Together
Supported Parenting Program in Baltimore, MD
at PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs
 Sue Jones, Positive Parenting Program of the
United Arc, Greenfield, MA
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GROWING TOGETHER
 Bernadette Irwin, The Growing Together
Supported Parenting Program in Baltimore, MD
at PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs
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Growing Together is Maryland’s only supported parenting program for
mothers and fathers who have intellectual disabilities and have young
children. We help parents provide safe,
supportive and stimulating
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environments for their children.
How are we funded?
100 % from MD
Developmental
Disability
Administration
(DDA) for 18
families
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Wow, Who Knew….
There are approximately
120,000 children born each year
in the U.S. to parents with
cognitive limitations (APA)
In Maryland, there are approximately
16,000 parents who have
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intellectual disabilities (ARC of Maryland)
Another
interesting fact….
The majority of children born
to parents with
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intellectual disabilities are born with normal IQs.
GROWING TOGETHER
 CHILDREN’S
COMPONENT
 Child-focused activities
Group Sessions
 Developmental
Peer Support and
assessments
Socialization
Social Work Counseling  On-site physical,
occupational,
Referral to community
speech/language therapy
resources
and special instruction, as
Transportation to/from
needed (through the
program
Baltimore City Infants and
Toddlers Program)
 PARENT
COMPONENT
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GROWING TOGETHER
 Eligibility Requirements
Twenty years of age or older
Have a child under age 3 living with them
Have an identified cognitive disability
Must be non-substance abusing and not currently
in treatment for substance abuse
 Live in Baltimore City or certain areas of Balto.
County
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WHAT WE TELL OUR PARENTS
ABOUT PLAY….SENC
 STRUCTURE – choices, routines, set rules for safety
and fairness
 ENGAGE -- have fun, be silly, use materials you
know your child will like, use favorite colors
 NURTURE – support, calm, encourage, comfort,
smile, kiss, cuddle, lots of I LOVE YOU and GREAT
JOB
 CHALLENGE – learn something new – make something
easy for them to do just a little bit harder
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Resources that we use….
 The Center for Applied Research in Education,
Darlene Mannix -- Academic and Practical Living Skills
Activities
 Color Me Healthy, Dunn, C.,(N.C. Cooperative
Extension), Thomas, C., (NC Division of Public Health),
Pegram, L., (NC Cooperative Extension)
 The Health and Wellness Program, Alexander J.
Tymchuk, www.brookespublishing.com
 Sunny Side of the Street, Iris Media --www.lookiris.com
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POSITIVE PARENTING
PROGRAM
 Sue Jones, Positive Parenting Program of the
United Arc, Greenfield, MA
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Fitting the Pieces Together
Supporting Parents with Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities
The United Arc’s
Positive Parenting Program
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How We Started
 1980’s – Initial referrals from DMR and DPW primarily to
support parents during TPR
 Early 1990’s – Panel discussions at disability conferences in
MA regarding unmet needs of parents with ID and DD and
their families
 1995- Urban and rural county surveys of professionals &
focus groups with parents to identify service gaps and
unmet needs
 1997 – Initiation of parenting group with CTF PESP funds
 1998 – Establish Positive Parenting Resource Center with
DDS Innovation Grant
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Program Vision
which has guided development activities
 Activities to decrease parent isolation, promote learning,
networking, foster peer support:
 Parent education & support groups
 Individualized support, skills training and case management:
 Individualized Parenting Support & Home Visiting
 Development and enhancement of natural networks:
 Volunteer “Family Friends”
 Intensive Supports/Reunification:
 Transitional Supported Living Program
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The United Arc Model:
Positive Parenting Program Components
• Individual parenting support, case management & skills
training - serving 40 plus families each month
• Parent education & support groups - typically 3-7 ongoing
groups (contingent on funding)
• Transitional Supported Living (quasi-residential services) an apartment building housing
5 apartments for families, a supportive neighbor and
parent educators’ office
• Volunteer mentoring – 15-20 active volunteers that provide
program and family support
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Parent Education & Support Groups
General & topic specific subject groups:
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understanding abuse & neglect
parent-child communication
promoting literacy
healthy relationships
Positive discipline, boundaries, limit setting, family routines
health & wellness
Age, geographic or situation focused groups:
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parents of young children
parents whose children are being removed
parents of teens
grandparents raising grandchildren
Couples
Moms or Dads
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Parent Education & Support Groups
Use of Evidence-based Curricula:
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Health & Wellness – Alexander Tymchuk
Nurturing Parent – Alexander Tymchuk
Family Game – Maurice Feldman
Sunny Side of the Street - Iris Media
Supplemental Materials:
 Channing Bete scriptographic booklets
 Activity or Game-based learning – Bingo, flash cards, role play
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Parent Education & Support Groups
Logistical Support to Enhance Participation:
 Reminder calls
 Transportation
 Child care
 Incentives for attendance and active involvement
Welcoming Environment:
 Sharing time
 Snacks or meals
 Located in family friendly settings with community
connection
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Funding
Parent Education & Support Groups
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Private grant for initial needs study
Children’s Trust Fund
Community Foundations
United Way
Women’s Fund
Agency on Aging Funds (grandparents groups)
Dept. of Children & Families (approved but not yet funded)
Local community grantors (hospitals)
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Funding
Parent Education & Support Groups
– supplemental support
• Small local grants – for transportation & child care costs,
special events such as family dinners & picnics
• Community Partnerships – Literacy Centers and Family
Centers for use of space & child care
• Food pantries, church donations & individuals - for materials
& children’s activities, games, food
• AmeriCorps – child activities & program support
• College interns/Volunteers – child care and
transport volunteers, co-facilitators
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Home Visiting & Parenting Skills Training
Address pressing issues/priorities of parent
Focus on parenting/family life skills training
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child development
infant/toddler care
child discipline
home safety & basic first aid
nutrition & meal planning
health care & wellness, hygiene, stress & anger
management
 social boundaries & healthy relationships
 household management, organization and cleanliness
 family budgeting, money management, resources
Offer Case Management & Service Coordination
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Funding
Home Visiting & Parenting Skills Training
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State Funding:
Dept. of Children & Families (child protection)
Dept. of Developmental Services (disability)
Private & Other Public Funding:
Community Foundations (private)
Area Agency on Aging (federal)
United Way (community fund)
Block Grants (federal through towns)
Private Foundations & Donors
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Transitional Supported Living
 Focus on stabilization and reunification
 Apartment model – 5 apartments for families
 Supportive neighbor and office located in
building
 Intensive Support – individual support from
parent educators, on-site supportive neighbor,
parenting group on-site
 Monthly meetings & family events
 Children’s activities & play yard
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Funding
Transitional Supported Living
Start up: State Arc Grant from private foundation for
start-up and pilot of program
Ongoing:
 Dept. of Children & Families refers
families for 1-2 years
participation;
DCF pays monthly fee per family
 Families have housing subsidies
 AmeriCorps member provides children’s support
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Volunteer Mentoring
Family Friends
 Individualized family support by fostering &
supporting long-term voluntary relationships
 Focus on community connections
 Focus on expanded opportunities & experience
 Experienced volunteers share wisdom & gain
relationship with new family: “win – win”
experience
 Focus on current wellbeing of family
and future wellbeing of children
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Funding
Volunteer Mentoring – Family
Friends
Start up: Multi-year grant from
National Council of Aging to
promote elder volunteerism
Ongoing: Coordinator position written
into multiple grants, i.e.
 Community Foundations
 United Way
 Title III – Area Agency on Aging elder services
 Private grants
 Also approved program model by DCF under Family Support &
Stabilization but not yet funded
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FY12 Funding & Program Status
 Individual Parenting Support/Skills Training –
Approximately $200,000 in state DCF funds
 Parent Education & Support Groups (combined with
home visiting) - $70,000 from 5 grants
 Family Friends & Grandparent Support - $19,000 from 2
grants
 Transitional Supported
Living Program - $90,000 from
state DCF funds
Serving approximately 100 Families
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LINDSAY, PHIL, JULIANNA
AND SARA
ONE SUCCESSFUL
FAMILY
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My Family
Phil Julianna Lindsay and Baby Sara
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Introduction
Why I do this?
What inspired me to do what I do?
A parent's love is whole no matter how many times
divided. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com
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Tips for parents that have a
disability
• Having a pretend baby
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Having a role model that is a
parent
Parenting
•
Having a team that will support
you
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It is not always easy we all
struggle!
“Remember to hug your children
and tell them that you love them
every day” Vinnie Politan HLN
Reporter
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Tips for parents that have a
disability that also work with
a support person
Let them know your wants
and needs for them
Make sure there supportive
towards you
Interesting fact : There are 8
Million people in the us that are
parents that have a disability
15% of all American parents
have a disability of some sort.
From the looking glass website
Your Children need your Presence
more than presents!-Jesse Jackson
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TASP WAS “BORN” ON May 28,
2009 at 4:47 PM in Louisville, CO
Many cups of coffee, soda and munchies were
consumed during the grueling ordeal of choosing
just the right name! The Tag Line says it just
right!
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OUR MISSION
TASP is dedicated to enhancing the
well-being of at-risk parents with
learning difficulties and their children.
This primarily includes parents who may
be identified as persons with intellectual
disabilities or borderline intellectual
functioning.
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TASP’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
 We accept that
separation from parents
is sometimes in the best
interest of children.
We recognized that
family life is complex.
We move forward in step
with self-advocates in
this shared work.
 We believed that our
expertise and resources
may also benefit parents
with other cognitive
challenges and the people
that support them.
We acknowledge that all
families need support and
rely on inter-dependent
network.
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How we operationalize our Mission
 Consulting with partners in child
 Facilitating community
welfare, early intervention,
partnerships and networking
education, health care, disability
 Offering educational opportunities
services and family support
 Partnering with self-advocates
 Working within interdisciplinary
 Promoting evidence-based
teams to individualize services
parenting skill assessments
 Establishing and raising quality
 Developing and endorsing evidence-
standards in assessment, training,
based curricula for training
service and research
 Honoring family autonomy, self-
 Promoting and conducting research
determination and parent
 Developing individualized supports
strengths
 Encouraging natural supports,
community acceptance and inclusion
that utilize evidence-based
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practices
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Great name!
501-C3 Status
+ new website
4 successful
conferences
Dynamic Board
of Directors
Meeting with
The
International
Association for
the Scientific
Study of
Intellectual
Disabilities to
discuss
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collaboration
TASP’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Committee
Bernadette Irwin, Co-President,
The Kennedy Krieger
Institute/PACT: Helping Children
with Special Needs, MD
[email protected]
Sue Jones, Co-President, The
United Arc, MA
[email protected]
Ginny Cruz, Vice President,
Metropolitan State College of
Denver
[email protected]
John Susa, Treasurer, Lifespan,
Inc, RI
[email protected]
Ellen Gilmartin*, Secretary,
Connecticut Office for Protection
and Advocacy for Persons with
Disabilities , Membership
[email protected]
Carol Boggs, Parent, Self Advocacy CoChair
Lindsay Brillhart, Parent
Self Advocacy Co-Chair
[email protected]
Maurice Feldman, Research
Committee, Centre for Applied
Disability Studies, Ontario Canada,
Brock University
[email protected],
Lana Hardy, All About Developmental
Disabilities, Decatur, GA
[email protected]
Leslie Kinney, Finance Committee,
The United Arc, MA
[email protected]
Elizabeth Lightfoot, Nomination/By-laws,
U. of Minnesota
[email protected]
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Susan Yuan, Public Policy/Advocacy,
University of Vermont
[email protected]
Carolyn Harpole, Ph.D., Psychological
Association of Bartlesville, OK
[email protected]
Sylvia Long, Director, Office of the
Public Defender, MD.
[email protected]
Catherine Wade, Parenting Research
Centre,East Melbourne, Victoria 3002
[email protected]
WHO’S WHO IN SUPPORTED
PARENTING……
 Tim and Wendy Booth - - from the UK – now retired
but have published many relevant works
 Maurice Feldman, Ph.D. (TASP Board Member) – Brock
University, CA – recent publication on Assessment +
many research articles
 Catherine Wade, Ph. D. (TASP Board Member) Parenting
Research Center, Melbourne, AU
(www.healthystart.net.au)
 Alexander Tymchuk Ph.D. “Father” of the Supported
Parenting philosophy in the U.S.
 Virginia Cruz PH.D. (TASP Board Member) Creator of A
Fair Chance video
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Even more great leaders/authors!
 David McConnell Ph.D. University of Alberta, CA
 Gwynnyth Llewellyn Ph.D. University of Sydney, AU
Articles by TASP members include….
 Irwin, B., New Ways of Thinking About Parents with Intellectual Disabilities, Impact,
Spring/Summer 2010, U. of MN, Minneapolis, MN –
http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/232
 http://www.eparentdigital.com/nxtbooks/exceptionalparent/201202/index.php
Article by two TASP members – Lindsay Brillhart and Susan Yuan
 http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20314177,00.html
Fleming, A, “Mommy is Always There for Me”
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The Association for Successful Parenting:
Enhancing the lives of families when parents
have learning difficulties
www.achancetoparent.org or .com
Email us at
[email protected]
Phone: 1-855-22-8277
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SO….WHAT NEXT?
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Who are parents with
intellectual disabilities?
• Parents with intellectual or developmental disabilities have
various levels of cognitive impairment
• Intellectual disability occurs before 18 characterized by
significant limitations in intellectual function and adaptive
behaviors
• Mild cognitive limitations describe individuals who may have
had a diagnosis at some time in their lives (perhaps in school)
and have lower than average learning, communication, and
understanding abilities. Their eligibility for services varies
from state to state; they may not qualify for disability services.
• Parents with intellectual disabilities are typically no different
than others in their hopes and dreams for their families.
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Issues that
parents face
Social and social service biases:
• Presumption of incompetence, unfit to be parents
• Limited supports made available
• Professional emphasis on limitations (rather than building on
strengths)
• Public resources often focus on crisis, not long-term support
• May be lack of trust in service providers driven by fear of loss
of children
• Disproportionate representation in child custody hearings;
often held to higher standards than other parents
• Poverty, lack of personal resources and opportunities
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Effective Strategies: Key Principles
• Services need to be responsive to the parents’
individual needs & focus on the whole family
• Services must include long-term, ongoing
supports
• Services must consider special learning
needs of the parent
• Services must assist parents to
become part of their community
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Relationship to Protective Factors
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Parental resilience
Social connections
Knowledge of parenting & child development
Concrete support in times of need
Social & emotional competence of children
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Community Donors for Events,
Program and Family Needs
• Community Coalitions – for Family Day Dinners
• Hospitals – for health focus in parenting groups
• Cultural Councils – for themed events at Family Picnics and
special programming, i.e. “Drumming Circle,” children’s
performances and theater, literacy through spoken poetry,
children’s photography workshops
• Churches – for supplies, materials, food, holiday gifts
• Private Donors – for children’s winter wear , playground
equipment, holiday gifts
• Civic groups, women’s groups, businesses,
school groups – for school supplies, food,
clothes and holiday gifts
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Funder Priorities & Program Needs
Supported Parenting/Family Support
fits into an array of concerns:
• Parent Disability & Early
Intervention
• Child Welfare
• Family Health &
Maternal & Child Health
• Literacy/School Readiness
• Welfare-to-Work
• Self Advocacy
• Women, Men, Children
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Transition
Child abuse prevention
Children in Foster Care
Volunteerism
Families challenged by
mental health, substance
abuse, poverty issues, etc.
• Multigenerational &
Non-traditional families
• And more…
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Approaching Funders & Donors
Goal is to match your program needs or aspects of the
program to Donor Interest.
Research grants can document need.
Start-up or pilot grants often demonstrate
efficacy of a service or program model
to future funders.
Build partnerships during needs assessment & funding
research. Participate in community coalitions.
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Additional Programs & Resources
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The United Arc Resource Guide
The Arc
The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP)
Through the Looking Glass (TLG) – National Resource
Center for Parents with Disabilities
• The Connecticut Parents with Cognitive Limitations
Workgroup
• AAIDD & IASSID
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