Conference Themes
Listening to the Voices: Children, Youth and Families
This theme will focus on the importance of inviting and understanding the perspectives of children, youth and families as they negotiate service systems (e.g., health, education, social services, etc.). What are their experiences, needs, and challenges? How is practice strengthened by listening to their voices?
Finding the Strength: Empowering Families
This theme will focus on the importance of recognizing, understanding and building family resilience and capacity. What strategies can service providers develop to better support and strengthen families? How can we work with families to address their information, psychosocial, and health needs? How can professionals develop programs that appreciate child and family diversity?
Partnerships and Working Alliances
This theme will explore the importance of true collaborative relationships among children, families and professionals. How can we include children (where appropriate) and families as partners in decision-making at all levels of service delivery, policy development and service planning? What are the advantages of building working alliances for children, for families and for service providers?
Meeting the Transition Challenge
This theme will explore factors which influence child and family adaptation to a variety of transitions (e.g., between service sectors, between developmental stages). How can service providers support families as they encounter changes in children’s developmental needs, health needs, resource needs, and service provision? How can we work collaboratively to streamline services across disciplines and sectors?
Implementing FCC: Successes and Challenges
This theme will showcase successes in Family-centred Care. Stories of success at the individual, service unit, or strategic level will be presented. What are the key components of successful programs? What are the challenges of implementing FCC? What are strategies to address challenges?
Multicultural Practices and Intercultural Understanding
This theme will explore challenges and opportunities for designing services that consider the needs and perspectives of a variety of cultures. How do we advance culturally-sensitive practice? What do families from minority cultures tell us they need? What policies, procedures and strategies have been effective in meeting these needs?