5 Tips For Families:
1. Start with the end in mind. First define the outcome you
want and work backwards to create a plan to get there.
2. Marshall your supports. Think
of the people you’ve
known and loved in your life and consider bringing them into your confidence
and letting them help you through this time.
3. Inventory your strengths. By
identifying the places you’re
strong and the things you’re good at, you can press these strengths
into service. People who work from their strengths, rather than their needs,
are the ones who succeed.
4. Remind yourself that you have options. In times of great
distress, our range of vision tends to shrink. No matter how helpless you
feel now, there are options available to you. Creating those options is easier
for a team than it is for one person on their own.
5. Put your own mask on before assisting others. That’s
what they tell you on an airplane in case of an oxygen emergency. If you’re
trying to help a loved one, remember to take care of yourself first. You
can’t give what you don’t have and no one benefits if you burn
out.
What Kinds of Services Do Family Network Teams Often Use?
Adult education/job training
Case management
Child Advocate to schools and mental health system
Child care
Drug/Alcohol Services
Education/special ed services
Employment services
Family counseling
Group counseling
Health/sexuality education
Individual counseling
In-home support services
Legal assistance
Medical support
Medication management
Mentoring
Recreation
Respite services
Spiritual/religious counsel
Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS)
Translation services
Tutoring
Examples of Family Network Goals Accomplished
(in families’ own words, but names changed):
Training Mark
to identify and report problems so that Andy and Mark are safe and the
home
is calm
Ariel will make
preparations for transition to independent living situation
For Josh to attend
school, become part of the community and have reduced incidents of violence
Ricky to develop
maturity: A) To be able to say no, & B)
to be more accountable
The family will
have clear roles and support Ryan through natural consequences (both
positive and negative)
Roxanne will have
peaceful and respectful behavior in the home in order for the family
to feel safe
Provide emotionally
stability for the entire family
Maddy will remain
clean and sober, and utilize the support available to her
Resolve educational
concerns regarding Doug Jr. and Marco
Taylor will be
able to interact and maintain appropriate relationships with peers and
adults
Dylan to return
home and have his health needs met so that he can be as healthy as is
possible
Family to have
consistency and structure in order to build routine
Susanne will attend
to her own health care needs; the level of stress associated with caring
for her mother will be reduced
The house will
be organized so that personal boundaries (both physical and emotional)
can
be identified, established and respected between Mia and Paul
in order to reduce stress within the home
Help Aaron's transition
home from his residential program be successful
