Understanding the Challenges in
Assessing Young Children
Gerard M. Kysela, Ph.D.,
Professor Emeritus,
The University of Alberta,
and
Clinical Director,
The Family Centred Practices Group.
www.familycentred.ca
Principles of Family-centred
Practice
•include families in decision-making,
planning, assessment, and service delivery;
•develop services for the whole family;
•services are guided by families priorities;
•families have choice regarding the level of
their participation.
Presentation Topics
•Resilience and Capacity Enhancement;
•The Ecological Model;
•The Family Adaptation Model;
•Family/Child Centred Assessment
Practices.
Resilience
Maintenance of positive adjustment under
challenging life conditions
A process (not a trait)
•Protective processes
•Risk processes
Why use resilience?
•Shifts our consciousness from pathology to capacity
•Alerts us to the possibility that positive adjustment
processes may differ by environment (challenging life
conditions vs typical life conditions)
Luther, S.S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The
construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for
future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543-562.
Protective Processes
Individuals
Families
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social competence
reading skill
sense of responsibility
problem solving
feelings of control
plans for future
optimism
history of success
history of + reinforcement
seeks support
detaches from conflict
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effective parenting
attachment
warmth and affection
cohesive support
structure within the family
coping skills
+ expectations of members
good partner relationships
strong extended family
extracurricular activities
responsibilities outside the
home
Mangham, McGrath, Reid, & Stewart, 1994
Protective processes in communities
•mutual support
•collective expectation of success in meeting
challenges
•high level of community participation
•organize cooperatively
•volunteerism
•egalitarian treatment of community members
•optimism
•empowerment (control over policy and
programming)
Mangham, C., Reid, G., McGrath, P., & Stewart, M. (1994).
Resiliency:Relevance to health promotion. Atlantic Health Promotion
The Ecological Model of Development
Macrosystem
Microsystems - Daily
Mesosystems - Family
School
Exosystems - Local
Structures
Macrosystems - Beliefs
and Mores
Proximal and Distal
Influences
Exosystem
School Board
Workplace
Mesosystem
Family
School
Friends
Child
Day Care
Microsystems interactive
Industry
Dominant beliefs/mores
Media
The Family Adaptation Model
Coping Skills
Hassles & Uplifts
Beliefs
Social Supports
Family Adaptation
Beliefs and Values (appraisals)
Demands
FAMILY ADAPTATION
Support (community and family)
Coping (behavioural)
Family Strengths and Resources
Family Goals
Priority
Usual Strategies Used
Desired
Outcome
Who Can Help?
Target
Date
Family/Child Centred Assessment
Practices
•Family-centered practices are based on the
philosophy that a child’s abilities to learn and
grow are intertwined with the strengths,
needs, and philosophies of their parents and
other family members
•Goal is to enhance the natural capacities of
the family to identify needs/risks, mobilize
skills, and set their own priorities for
intervention.
Common Practices in Family Centred
Practices
•Inform parents of the purpose and intent of
all assessment measures and procedures
•Accept direction from families regarding
goals for their child, information and
resources they need, and priorities they
would like to see addressed
•Provide a variety of supports that fit with
various styles, strengths and preferences
•Use clear, jargon-free language as well as
helping families become effective
communicators
Common Practices in Family Centred
Practices
•Help families view the assessment and
intervention process in a positive light
•Understand the family within their context
and accommodate all individual differences
•Value, believe and respect all information
that you receive from parents - keep it in the
strictest confidence
•Help families see similarities between
themselves and their peers
Practices One Tries To avoid
•Invading privacy
•Unfairly raising expectations of family
members regarding treatment gains
•Telling families what they NEED to do
•Under-emphasizing the importance of
team work
•Isolating the child as the client