Month: June 2014

A Time for Reflective Supervision

Reflective supervision and coaching is becoming more of a growing need in Head Start. The more we ask staff to be involved in the emotional needs of families, the more staff requires emotional support. Reflective supervision provides an opportunity to explore the many emotions and experiences that occur in a relationship – relationships between the supervisor and the staff person, between the staff person and the parent, and between the parent and the child. It is essential to understand how each of these relationships affects the other.

Reflective supervision and coaching provides an opportunity to:

  • understand the experiences that each of our families brings to us;
  • understand the beliefs and experiences that our staff brings to their interactions with children and families; and
  • incorporate the new knowledge from these understandings to increase the staff’s skills in working with children and families through a shared partnership with the supervisor.

Training on reflective supervision includes hands-on practice with emotionally-sensitive listening and responding skills. Supervisors are provided with role plays, real-life case scenarios and sensitive, constructive feedback through coaching. The training experience will serve as a model for creating a Head Start setting in which reflective supervision will be put into consistent practice.

Looking for training on reflective supervision and coaching? Give us a call at (704) 451-3255 or email us at kristinecortina@hsessentials.com.

Case Management: An Opportunity to Achieve Positive Family Outcomes

The Family Service Worker is the first point of contact for our families. They play an essential role in your program, especially in the area of case management. Case management is a process that was not well-named as our families aren’t “cases” and our job is not to “manage” them.

We see case management as a process that includes:

  • establishing a good working relationship with the family;
  • implementing a goal-setting process with the family;
  • linking the family to services and resources;
  • following up with the family regularly and maintaining good documentation; and
  • “closing the loop” to ensure that the family receives all needed services.

“Closing the loop” is a follow-up system that confirms that each family is linked to all needed services.  The Family Service Worker systematically checks in with the family on a regular basis assisting the family in accessing services, following up to ensure they are satisfied with the services, and providing guidance and support until the child and family receives all needed services.

We utilize a family strengths-based model, utilizing each family’s individual strengths, to assist them in achieving their goals. Strong planning and organizational skills as well as keeping families engaged are keys to successful case management. An effective case management system leads to positive outcomes for children and families.

Looking for case management training for your Family Service Workers?  Give us a call at (704) 451-3255 or email us at kristinecortina@hsessentials.com.