Service Philosophy
1. Children should grow up within their own families. In their article, “Family preservation: An orientation for administrators & practitioners” (1990) Cole & Duva write:
“as a society we say we believe that all human beings - - and children in particular - - need to be attached to and nurtured by other human beings … we believe that in children these needs are best met when children are raised in families where they can be protected, sheltered, socialized, and helped to become adults….”(p.7).
Furthermore, studies show that connectedness and continuity with one’s family are important for human development throughout life (Laird, J. An ecological approach to child welfare: Issues of family identity and continuity. (1979).
2. People can change. This implies the belief that parents - - and other family members - - have strengths, potential, and the capacity to grow and change. It implies that people are doing the best they are able to do or know how to do (Kinney et al., 1990; Maluccio, 1991). It also means appreciating and respecting the styles of parenting and childcare that result from different cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. As Cole and Duva (1990) describe it, “generally, families are entitled to raise children as they think best, so long as they conform to the laws of our society” (p. 8).
3. Clients should be regarded as colleagues/partners. Helping professionals must believe that people know what is best for them, what hurts them and how their pain can best be relieved. By involving the family as a partner, Family Foundations strives to enhance the family’s sense of competency and control over their own lives (Berg, 1991). Parents and other family members should be consulted about their situation during the helping process because they are the experts when it comes to their own particular situation. Professionals should respect the authority of the parents in the family unit (CWLA, 1989).
4. Families need to become empowered. Every effort should be made to avoid perpetuating the sense of helplessness and hopelessness many families experience. Work with families should focus on helping them find ways so they can act for themselves, help themselves, and become more confident in their own abilities. The Family Foundations program should be used to help families “obtain and manage the resources necessary to sustain them, cope with crises, and achieve their service goals” (CWLA, 1989, p.48). Berg (1991) writes, “the best way to provide services to a child is through strengthening the family as a unit” (p.4).
5. The program staff needs support. Finally, it is assumed that for practitioners to be successful in helping families, they should be “adequately supported, rewarded, and empowered” (Maluccio, 1991, p. 21).
“as a society we say we believe that all human beings - - and children in particular - - need to be attached to and nurtured by other human beings … we believe that in children these needs are best met when children are raised in families where they can be protected, sheltered, socialized, and helped to become adults….”(p.7).
Furthermore, studies show that connectedness and continuity with one’s family are important for human development throughout life (Laird, J. An ecological approach to child welfare: Issues of family identity and continuity. (1979).
2. People can change. This implies the belief that parents - - and other family members - - have strengths, potential, and the capacity to grow and change. It implies that people are doing the best they are able to do or know how to do (Kinney et al., 1990; Maluccio, 1991). It also means appreciating and respecting the styles of parenting and childcare that result from different cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. As Cole and Duva (1990) describe it, “generally, families are entitled to raise children as they think best, so long as they conform to the laws of our society” (p. 8).
3. Clients should be regarded as colleagues/partners. Helping professionals must believe that people know what is best for them, what hurts them and how their pain can best be relieved. By involving the family as a partner, Family Foundations strives to enhance the family’s sense of competency and control over their own lives (Berg, 1991). Parents and other family members should be consulted about their situation during the helping process because they are the experts when it comes to their own particular situation. Professionals should respect the authority of the parents in the family unit (CWLA, 1989).
4. Families need to become empowered. Every effort should be made to avoid perpetuating the sense of helplessness and hopelessness many families experience. Work with families should focus on helping them find ways so they can act for themselves, help themselves, and become more confident in their own abilities. The Family Foundations program should be used to help families “obtain and manage the resources necessary to sustain them, cope with crises, and achieve their service goals” (CWLA, 1989, p.48). Berg (1991) writes, “the best way to provide services to a child is through strengthening the family as a unit” (p.4).
5. The program staff needs support. Finally, it is assumed that for practitioners to be successful in helping families, they should be “adequately supported, rewarded, and empowered” (Maluccio, 1991, p. 21).
