course »Strength-Based Family Engagement: The Most Important Aspect of our Work!

Date: 8/21/2019, 10:00 am—4:30 pm
County: Alameda County
CEUs: 5.5
Location: Oakland
Sponsor: Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
Phone: 510-482-2244
We have been told to be “strength-based” and “client centered”, however, we have not typically been told exactly what this means. We will closely examine and define what it means in our work to be strength-based and what strategies we might use in order to effectively engage with a family in a client directed way. Since the evidence in our field clearly indicates that the therapeutic alliance with the family is the number one ingredient to successful outcomes, we need to focus on how to better do this. In our field, we are often pathology-focused on the negative symptoms/behaviors of our clients and on the use of labels that we often must apply in order to receive Medi-Cal reimbursement. Thus, it is easy to forget, during the family challenges, that everyone has strengths and abilities and good intentions. This training focuses on understanding the importance of joining/engaging with family members from the beginning and being able to assess what kinds of strategies might create a family friendly process of engagement, especially with families who just don’t want to work with us!