COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS & LINKAGES: REACHING OUT TO WORK TOGETHER — HANDOUT AND TRANSPARENCY 1.2

Essential Elements of Family-Centered Practice

1. The family as a unit is the focus of attention.

Family-centered practice works with the family as a collective unit, ensuring the safety and well-being of family members.

2. Emphasis is placed on assessing and building on family strengths and on the capacity of families to function effectively.

The primary purpose of family-centered practice is to strengthen the family's potential for carrying out its responsibilities.

3. Families are engaged in designing all aspects of the policies, treatment and evaluation of the agency.

Family-centered practitioners partner with families to use their expert knowledge throughout the decision- and goal-making processes and provide individualized, culturally responsive, and relevant services for each family.

4. Families are linked with a comprehensive, diverse, and community-based network of supports and services.

Family-centered interventions assist in mobilizing resources to maximize communication, shared planning, and collaboration among the several community and/or neighborhood systems that are directly involved in the family.