Quote of the Day

To form meaningful and lasting partnerships, parents and professionals must understand what a partnership is and why it is needed. To us, a partnership is an association of two or more people engaged in an activity of common vision who share the successes and challenges brought about by this vision. Partnerships are needed because they allow us to share in the vision of what is best for children and families. In our community, parents, professionals, and families work together as partners in policy development, board membership, service system design, advocacy, and community education.

Many people have asked us how we have come to understand and accept the philosophy and values inherent in a system of care that involves partnering. This involves putting words into action and understanding other people’s points of view. Actions, we know, speak louder than words. So how can others learn to understand and collectively put the value of family-based care into practice? A process must occur within an individual person, an organization, and the broader community. There are 10 steps in this process. They do not always occur in a particular order and they may occur simultaneously, but they must be experienced as part of the evolutionary process of forming effective family-professional partnerships. The process can take months or even years to evolve, but it is well worth the time and effort.

Ten Key Steps
The 10 steps in the process require the individual, organization, and community to "let go." This "letting go" is a task that everyone has to do—families of children with special needs and the professionals who are there to assist them. It is important to note that letting go leaves a void. This loss provides an incredible opportunity for creating positive change. In our experience, the following 10 steps are required for families and professionals to begin the journey of letting go and walking in each other’s shoes:

Acknowledge that you must do things differently.
Be honest—admit your limitations.
Face your fears and discuss them mutually.
Discuss your expectations and assumptions.
Admit to the anger, frustration, pain, and disappointments of the past, and redirect those feelings to use them in a positive way.
Maintain a healthy sense of humor and remember to focus on strengths.
Agree to disagree and mutually resolve differences.
Acknowledge and celebrate the experiences that have brought you to where you are today.
Acknowledge and celebrate cultural differences.
Recognize that when positive family-professional partnerships begin to emerge, the strength of the relationship will be tested.

STEPHANY BRYAN & LUANNE SOUTHERN
Bryan, S. & Southern, L. (2001). Walk a Mile in My Shoes. Reaching Today's Youth. Vol. 5 No.3 pp 27-28