Question

I plan on implementing Nurturing Families Infant-19 with birth parents whose children are in foster care. Do you have any suggestions on how to utilize this program when birth parents will have limited access to their children on a weekly basis?

Answer

This is a great idea and it has proven to be effective. Parents do not need to have daily or weekly access with their children to successfully learn. All Home Practice Asssignment’s (HPA) Reinforce the lessons learned and can be done with self or other adults. It is highly recommended that you provide parents with extra HPA’s to help them interact in nurturing and fun ways when they do have access to their children.

Question

If the parents will not participate in the program, is it acceptable to work with the child only?

Answer

Nurturing Families Infant-19 best practices is always to work from a family systems perspective. Work extra hard to join with the adults in the family system before joining with the child. Once you have consulted with your supervisor on ways to join with parents, then you can ask the parents  permission to do sessions directly with the child on a regular basis.

Question

How would you work with a family or parent who is consistently non-complaint in the practice of taught sessions in their own home?

Answer

Nurture Me and Watch Me Grow. The language non-complaint assumes that they do not choose to be on this journey with us. Possibly they have never been around nurturing facilitators that have empowered them and pointed out their strengths. Don’t give up on believing in people even if they do not currently believe in us, themselves or the journey.

Question

Do you have suggestions for utilizing the program if a translator is needed for just one client? How best could we make it work to help them out as we don’t have a large Spanish speaking clientele?

Answer

The best and most equitable way to serve families that speak a different language other than English is to educate the translator on the philosophy and values and provide a cultural translation not a direct English translation of the curriculum. You can also ensure that the translator comes from the same culture as the family being served.

Question

What happens if the families “no show” a lot of appointments after you have started the curriculum? In some programs parents must attend all of their appointments, so I was wondering what would happen if families missed appointments.

Answer

Begin by recognizing that rapport and more time may be needed; then you reschedule as soon as you can in that same week. Discuss with the family what you could do differently to better serve them.

Question

What is the ideal group size for presenting this curriculum?

Answer

The recommended group size is 10-15 adults, which may include married couples. The recommended home-based or individual size is 12-15 families.

Question

Is the Temperament Traits Exercise is available for Spanish speaking clients?

Answer

All competencies will be in Spanish soon.  Please check back with us to purchase..

Question

Would you do this program as a class of parents or just one family at a time?

Answer

You can do individual or group and recognize that both are effective with Nurturing Families Infant-19.

Question

Is there a specific group of people that this program works best being for?

Answer

I would have to say a tertiary level because that is how I developed the program and I paid close attention to their needs and the needs of the Facilitators who have created a career around serviving our most vulnerable populations.

Question

Does the Family Nurturing Center of Texas have any curriculum that is aligned with child placing agency minimum standards for Texas Foster and Adoptive Pre-Service Training? For example, could someone attend one or more of the trainings and would it encompass all of the standards required for foster-adopt agencies in TX?

Answer

Yes, FNC-TX has Nurturing Families Infant-19 that meets the standards for Texas Foster and Adoptive Pre-Service,  if they complete the entire 16 weeks of sessions.

Question

When working with families that have both parents in the home, what are some ways to better implement the roles in parenting if the roles are reversed such as the mother is more of the father and the father is more of the mother?

Answer

Their patterns and styles of relating are theirs for us to appreciate and honor without judgement or critique. Rejoice in the fact that the children in that home have more than one adult loving them. Beautiful amazing talented emotional competent adults come from diverse parenting styles and family dynamics. You and I may be a product of that.

Question

It is hard to build rapport with some families that have zero access to online services and are not able to meet in person. Do you feel it is possible to work with a family strictly by phone with this program?

Answer

We believe we do out best to make contact often and however we can. Yes, the Nurturing Families Infant-19 has proven effective on the phone according to AAPI post scores.

Question

I’m fairly new to the facilitator role and find myself struggling a little bit relaying the material as a facilitator. What are some tips to help me improve as a facilitator?

Answer

Let us start by commending you for your beautiful vulnerability. Practice Practice Practice with any and everyone. Stick to order of the lessons so you learn the intent behind the lesson sequencing. We are here to serve, let us know how we can help.

Question

Is it best practice to relate to a client by saying “I know how that feels”?

Answer

This would not be our recommendation. We do not know how people feel. Every one is unique in their feelings and life experiences. You can say “I am here to listen and try to understand”.  Emotional presence means it is not about you.

Question

How would you work with a parent or family that is open to receiving the services, but not receptive of the material provided to them?

Answer

We would listen more and talk less. Just spend time bringing joy to their heart. Try not to give advice or ask too many head questions. The “Guess Who” activity, Family Eco-Story and Parenting Styles are great discussions to start with. Discussions should be informal and the intent is to reach the heart.

Question

If doing group based training, how many groups should a facilitator have at one time? If doing individual training, how many should be on that facilitator’s roster?

Answer

Best practice recommendations for Nurturing Families Infant -19 for tertiary families is 2-3 groups a week.

Question

Most of the time, I work only with moms because dads are working. Is that good practice when facilitating or is it recommended that both parents are present?

Answer

You can work with any family member that want to participate, always welcoming all and always from a family system perspective. Remember, your focus is the family when working with just one member of the family.

Question

Do you feel this training would work well with families from different cultural backgrounds? Is this training offered in different countries?

Answer

Yes, it is.  FNC-TX Sonya M. Thorn, MSOL LCSW Chief Executive Officer is an international trainer on this program. She has taken it to London, Bermuda, Canada, Japan and Latin America.

Question

How do you teach a parent that is overhwelmed?

Answer

Start by always completing the 10 lessons of the first three competencies. This helps with emotional regulation and self awareness.

Question

I do not have children myself. I know some parents are resistant to parenting instructions or recommendations from non-parents. How would you recommend handling situations where this may be a barrier to facilitating?

Answer

Excellent question, thank you for asking. The great thing about the Nurturing Families is that it is more about teaching empathy than it is about teaching parents how to parent their children. Because you have a heart and care about others you have the ability to do that just as well as any one else. Also, as mentioned in the training, this program is about relationships with self and others. We happen to focus on the relationship between parents and children that you can also relate to because you are someone’s child but you can also focus on the relationship you have with yourself, others and the people we work with and for their behalf.