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Background:
The purpose of the team approach is to value families and support
parents and caregivers in meeting their children’s needs.
The family has first-hand knowledge of those needs and brings with
them culture, heritage and desires for the future. The ABLE team
respects and appreciates each family’s desires for their child.
Our job is to help families help their children. We see the family
as the head of the team created to help their child. Our goal is
to have families know what community resources are available to
help them, such as special services through public schools, the
Utah Parent Center, etc. In communities around the state, we link
families with a parent advocate who is familiar with the clinic,
knows the family’s community well and can help them access
the services they need. Our role is to support the family’s
objectives and work on their side for the wellbeing of their child.
We appreciate the family’s strengths and encourage them to
use their strengths to support alliances with community resources.
These alliances create and build on a network of support that fosters
their child’s growth.
The following are statements made by clients and professional contacts
of the ABLE clinic about their impressions and experiences regarding
the services the clinic provides, as well as their thoughts about
the above family statement. The draft above was crafted and edited
by parents to represent what they stand for.
The ABLE team hopes to serve as a model for other agencies, but
more for the Sate of Utah by demonstrating the value and success
of strength-culturally based services, a team wrap-around approach,
outcome directed and change oriented resources for special needs
children and their families.
Families are rich with their stories of hard times and resiliency.
We are grateful for learning about families’ lives and what
they have shown us about the human spirit. We are also appreciative
of the confidence and trust parents have in our service toward them
as we thank all of our families including the people who have highlighted
what has worked for them here.
Note: Although there is a suggestion of praiseful
testimonials, inquiries were directed at what would make a difference
in the care rendered by anyone and how that might generalize to
other contexts.
Mother of a girl with mild
mental retardation:
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“I think a team is a good idea. By using teams and
brainstorming I was able to see the forest for the trees. It
seems like when you have more brains, you have more resources.” |
“[The team] is great for recognizing [my child’s]
strong points. Focusing on strengths is necessary to survive.”
“I liked the team approach and…I liked having
more opinions. [The team] gave the support I needed to get things
done. People are more willing to accept what’s coming from
a team rather than one person when the ideas don’t match
their own.”
Mother of three children with anxiety disorder:
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“At the regular doctor, [the glass is] half empty
and you’re trying to fill it up; with the team, they figure
out what’s right and build on it. They build [the child]
up to themselves and to [the parents]. You leave there strengthened
and it’s hard to wait for the next appointment.” |
“[What I like about] teams is you get all different
ideas, especially when members respect each other, which they
do [in this program].”
“Focusing on strengths is extremely
beneficial. Parents need to hear a positive perspective to
have the strength to [find help for their kids].”
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“The team-based approach makes things easier
for families, helps the family be more confident [and] fits well
with the medical home model.”
Parent advocate:
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“One of the things I love about the
program is you get opinions from lots of other people so that
you’re not operating in a vacuum.” |
“What the program does is an incredible service to
this state. I brag about our services all over the country. I
really believe in the whole process of having these clinics.”
“[The program] loves families so much that they don’t
require families to do more on their own instead of relying completely
on the clinic. Really support their strengths and confidence in
themselves”(when families are in a place to be capable of
that).
“The family advocates [could work on] setting up their
own meetings without relying on the clinic so much.”
“Agencies need to adopt [the team approach] by understanding
how it benefits their agency.”
“The program is marvelous because they look at the
whole child, not just physical, but emotional, social, [etc.],
which not many organizations do.”
“What the family says matters; family is included as
part of the team. [The clinic] has capable, brilliant people that
offer solutions [and] work together to find solutions to help
the family.”
“[The program] uses strengths to determine abilities
and needs. Usually when you go to a doctor, you’re there
because something’s wrong. In looking at strengths you allow
the child to build on one strength and develop others.”
Mother of child with high-functioning autism (also
a parent advocate):
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“I liked the team approach because there was more
than one person there…everybody’s got a different
perspective…and we were able to problem solve from there.” |
“[The team] listens to you as a parent. They really
listen and that makes all the difference in the world.”
“[The program] doesn’t just focus on the child,
they focus on the family as a unit. They actually spend the time
with you; you don’t feel you have to rush. They help [parents]
remember ‘you’re important’. The whole approach
is wonderful; it’s calming [and] it doesn’t add further
stress.”
Mother of a child with autism and two children with
learning disabilities:
| “I tell people about [the program]. The [team’s
approach] has helped me through a lot. When you see strengths
and [the team] points them out, it encourages you.” |
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“I love the team because there’s so many different
specialists…they all work together…they come up
with suggestions…and it works. They got me to ask more
questions I needed to ask, which I didn’t know, and they’re
behind me…and I feel stronger.”
“Increase accessibility and awareness through schools
and the website; the website would be good for parents to get
more knowledge.”
Mother of a child with learning differences:
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“[The team] never seems to be in any hurry. You
can sit down and discuss any problems…and they take the
time to look at it from different angles. The discussion that
ensues…is really helpful. All the meetings are very positive.
It’s a personal interaction so [my child] is more willing
to open up and look at the difficulties he faces.” |
“[The program] tries to figure out ways you can use
strengths to carry out weaknesses and that’s a positive
thing. [The team] taught my [child] to look for strengths and
that’s a long-term effect.”
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