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
