PARENTS: SOME DO’S AND DON’TS FOR IMPROVING PARENT/PROVIDER RELATIONSHIPS
By BARBARA J. GOFF, Ed.D
DO
Say positive things to the staff—your support means more than you can
imagine
Attend your child’s planning meetings
Coordinate your child’s home visits with the staff so they can plan
house activities
accordingly
Ask for the program’s policies and procedures in writing and discuss any
questions or
concerns up front
Follow-up with staff when your child tells you about something terrible
that happened
to him or her at the program
Follow the communication chain—creates good faith with the staff (and
doesn’t
preclude you from going straight to the top when you really need to)
Ask questions
Adhere to program guidelines regarding calling and visiting
Work together to establish balanced and realistic expectations
DON’T
Blame, threaten, or yell at direct service staff—bring your concerns to
the appropriate
supervisor
Question a decision made by a staff person in front of your child or
other program
participants
Do your child’s households chores for him/her
Forgo his diet plan entirely during home visits
Believe that absolutely every behavior issue that arises is a result of
PWS and isn’t
subject to change (after all-do we really know for sure?)
Believe everything you hear from a staff person about an incident-check
it out with a
supervisor who usually has the bigger and more complete picture
Give cash or credit cards directly to your child (and worse yet, neglect
to tell staff about
it!)
Make assumptions
FINALLY
Don’t expect that any program can provide all that you provide as a
loving parent, but do acknowledge what your child gains by being in a work
or residential program. There are trade-offs and most are very worthwhile.
