Strengthening the family-professional partnership in services for young children

When each level of service delivery moves toward partnering with families, people at every level of the system - local, community, state, and federal - reap the rewards of improved outcomes and increased cultural competence. This empowering book gives students and professionals practical advice for developing truly collaborative relationships with families. All the while, it relays concrete ways to establish mutual respect between families and service providers.

Outlined long-term goals and proposed support models help professionals and paraprofessionals learn to address families' unique needs. Chapters of case examples highlight service integration problems. With common-sense ideas for involving parents, getting desired direction from agency leadership, and implementing programs based on legislation, this text is ideal for preservice and in-service instruction in social work, home visiting, education, nursing, family and human development, and psychology.