Family Voices - An Effort to Shift Awareness, Narrative and Culture
The ECAS Network has recognized the importance of shifting awareness, narrative and culture as a core systems-change metric.
To do so, the network and many partners continue to elevate family voices. Understanding how families navigate and experience our early childhood systems informs strategy, policy considerations, program design, and funding needs. Over the course of the last few months, the ECAS Network participated in a tremendous opportunity to amplify and uplift family voices.
The Department of Health (DOH), keiki with Special Health Needs Branch (CSHNB) has been working on a 5 year plan called the Blueprint for Change (BFC). Within this Blueprint, multiple domains were discussed, regarding what improvements would look like, and how to implement change. A crucial aspect of the Blueprint for Change is family voices.
At the CSHNB Partner meeting in July, parent voices were front and center. After the most recent updates from the BFC implementation strategies, a parent panel was presented. During this panel, parents of keiki with special health needs had the opportunity to share what a day in the life of a parent looks like. They described the daily stressors, the joys, and the sorrows. The parents took time to acknowledge those within the DOH that have had an amazing impact on their child, as well as their family.
In preparation for the panel, families had the opportunity to take part in a Mo’olelo photo and storybook session. The CSHNB will share and display these panels at conference presentations, special events, and more.
In preparation for the family panel, families who utilize DOH services had the opportunity to take part in a Mo’olelo photo and storybook session. This included family photos taken by a professional photographer, a storybook of photos and the story they shared of their child presented to them, as well as 6 foot story panels that highlighted their amazing keiki, and families. Not only will the parents be able to keep the storybook, the CSHNB will share and display these panels at conference presentations, special events, and more. The stories that the families have to tell, and the love they have for their keiki will be on display for years to come, sharing the message of their family, and their impact on the BFC moving forward.
Parents who were members of the panel had an overwhelming willingness to share their stories with providers and administrators. There was a comfort level from the parents united together up front, that allowed those who are timid exercise their full voice in sharing the amazing stories about their children. Feedback from the Partners meeting in July included:
“As a parent, I found the family panel extremely interesting and meaningful, Dr. Fresca's personal commitment to the strategic plan was very genuine, and I look forward to the great things that will come over the next 5 years. Mahalo!”
“I loved the question that was asked at the end about what type of services they would like to see. I like that families shared their positive and negative experiences. There was a balance. It would be great if there were more parents to listen to their stories.”
ECAS Team 5, the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) is composed of government and non-government partners and is composed of multiple workgroups. These workgroups include: Leadership, Preservice, Inservice, Recruitment and Retention, and Evaluation. The workgroups collaborate together to improve the workforce for those that work with keiki with significant support needs, birth to five years old. As of last month, an additional workgroup has been added. The Family workgroup has been added after many years in the making. With their lived expertise, first hand knowledge, and sincere care for their keiki, they will be able to inform the workgroups in all aspects of workforce development. Providing insight on how to train future educators and providers to work with families, up to date, culturally and linguistically appropriate professional development, and recruitment ideas is just the beginning. The CSPD hopes to capitalize on the experiences families have had to keep the work moving forward.
By continuing to shift the awareness to family voices and lived experience, we hope to move the narrative and culture of systems change in Hawai‘i, in a positive direction.