Talking about your experiences can be a powerful way to influence decision-making, shape attitudes and develop best practices. Examples of ways you can educate staff include:
- Giving formal presentations to staff about what matters
- Having one-on-one conversations through our Families as Teachers program
- Taking part in small group discussions with staff that deepen understanding
Families As Educators Highlights
Seven parents presented to the Hematology/Oncology program staff at a meeting in 2007. They focused on the experiences surrounding their children’s diagnoses and wove into their stories key messages they wanted providers to understand. Prior to this presentation, each parent participated in a pilot training called “Effective Presentations: Teaching Through Stories.” A total of 15 parents participated in the training and gave the experience a “thumbs-up review.”
This training was a fantastic tool that has helped me focus my experiences and my thoughts into a message that I would like to communicate to any captive audience. It has given me structure for my thoughts.
Parent presenter and training participant
Families as Teachers (FAT) is a home-based training program for healthcare professional trainees that takes place in families’ homes. It offers a unique opportunity for parents and trainees to meet in the comfort of a family’s home and to talk openly and honestly about topics of interest to both. Families involved in the program receive initial support to prepare for the visits and generally make an annual commitment to host one or two visits.
Just wanted to say thanks for sending [the resident] our way. How lucky I am to be part of this program. How lucky we are to have people like her becoming pediatricians! It gives me hope for our future.
Parent involved in FAT program
What a privilege it was to meet with [the parent]. We just seemed to click. I learned so much.
Resident
A panel of four parents presented to a large audience of doctors and hospital staff on the topic of parental self-efficacy, using their own experiences to share ways that staff can enhance parents’ sense of confidence and competence. This presentation continues to be used today as a training tool. This group of four also presented at the 3rd International Conference on Patient- and Family-Centered Care, August 2007, Seattle.
This is extremely useful. To step back and hear parents' experiences/thoughts can change how we practice and relate to families profoundly.
Staff member
For more information about the Families As Educators Program, contact Lyn Kratz, MSW, Senior Social Worker, at 206-987-1006.