Creating Opportunities for D/HH Infants and Toddlers and

Their Families to Build Connections

Jill BargonesAmy McCallPatti Hobbs

Susan Norton

Family Conversations - Seattle Children’s Hospital

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention ConferenceMarch 8-10, 2015

Louisville, Kentucky

Family Conversations

"Parent" Conversations

"Little" Conversations

"Family" Conversations

An early intervention program that supports infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families in western Washington. In addition, to weekly home visits we offer Family Conversations Groups.

Family Conversations Groups

Best Practices

Joint Committee on Infant Hearing. Supplement to the JCIH 2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Intervention After Confirmation That a Child Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. May 2013.

GOAL 9: All Families Will Have Access to Other Families Who Have Children Who are D/HH

GOAL 11: All Children Who are D/HH and Their Families Have Access to Support, Mentorship, and Guidance From Individuals Who are D/HH

Best Practices

Best Practices in Family Centered Early Intervention for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: An International Consensus Statement. Moeller, Carr, Seaver, Stredler-Brown and Holzinger, 2013.

Principle 4: Family Social & Emotional SupportRecognizes the key role of 1) parent-to-parent support in promoting social

and emotional well-being for families 2) contacts between families and their

communities to strengthen informal capacity3) connections between families and adults who are

D/HH

Conceptual Framework

Conceptual Framework

Well-being

Knowledge

Empowerment

Key Constructs for the benefits of Parent-to-Parent Connections include:

Well-being

Key Components of parent well-being:

Relational supportEmotional support

Adaptational support

Well-being

This parent talks about the value of parent and family support early in the process for her sense of well-being

Video 1

Well-being

Key components of parent well-being regarding their child:

AutonomyParticipation

Goals

Well-being:Autonomy, Participation and Goals

One mom reflects on the value of supporting her son’s autonomy

Clip 2

Well-being:Autonomy, Participation and Goals

These families are joining in group singing time as part of “Family Conversations” Groups

Clip: Elevator Song

Well-being:Autonomy, Participation and Goals

These kids are enjoying an art exploration activity together as part of “Little Conversations”

Clip 3

Well-being:Autonomy, Participation and Goals

This mom reflects on the pre-academic and group skills her son gained by regular participation in group.

Clip 4

Knowledge

InformationResources

System NavigationAdvocacy

Knowledge: “Parent Conversations”

Opportunities for parents to connect and learn with and from each other:

• Parent-to-parent discussions• Professional connections• Community connections• Informal group opportunities

Knowledge: Parent-to-Parent Discussions

• Play• Communication environments: Access and Opportunities• Literacy• Circle of Security Parenting• Transitions• Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities

Knowledge: Professional Connections

• Guide By Your Side (H parent of HH teens)• Assistive Listening Devices Store (HH manager)• FMs and technology (H-Audiologist)• Apps that support language (H-SLP)• Giving kids choices (H Psychologist, parent of 1 H and 2 HH

children)• Siblings (H Psychologist, parent of 1 H and 2 HH kids)• WA State Center on Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss

(CDHL – H parent of 2 D kids)• Preschool (D and HH preschool ToD and aide)

Knowledge: Community Connections

• Transition: panel of parents of 5-7 yr. old D/HH kids• Growing up D/HH D/HH Community Visitors Program: teen and adult

community members visit group to play and talk about life growing up D or HH; parents have opportunities to ask questions in a safe environment

• Parenting D/HH teens: panel of parents of 15-18 yr. old D/HH teens

Knowledge: Informal Opportunities

Field trips Farm, Zoo PicnicsPark play datesFamily time

Knowledge

This parent talks about a visitor presenting about assistive devices. She shared her experience growing up with these devices, providing real life experiences for other parents to

learn from.

Clip 5

Knowledge

Transition• Discussion: preschool readiness, the state process and laws• Professional connections:

State resources: CDHLPreschool TOD and aide

• Community connections: parent panel

Knowledge

This parent talks about the value of professional connections and the importance of parent-to-parent connections for her

learning and sense of well-being

Clip 6

Knowledge

This parent talks about advocacy skills her 5 year old hearing daughter is learning.

Clip 7

Empowerment

Competence and confidenceDecision Making

ParentingProblem Solving

Empowerment

This parent talks about how connection with another family gives her the confidence that she can support her child

successfully participating in social and community activities.

Clip 8

Empowerment

This mom reflects on the process she has gone through from feeling overwhelmed and pressured to developing confidence

and comfort in making decisions for her child.

Clip 9

SUMMARY

Family Conversations Groups provides a model program for supporting families in building

strong connections within their family and community a strong foundation for children’s social and academic

learning, and important connections with other families and D/HH

communities

SUMMARY

Family Conversations Groups“Little” Conversations“Parent” Conversations“Family” Conversations

provide a structure for any program, regardless of language or mode of communication, to provide important opportunities for families to build connections and support the emotional well-being of all family members.