Children's Learning Connection - Orange County, CA

What level of commitment is required by the family?

What level of commitment is required from the family?

In all CLC programs, parents are considered to be an integral part of the team. Parents are encouraged to attend and actively participate in treatment sessions. Parent education is heavily emphasized and takes place on a weekly basis, allowing the parent to employ successful strategies to help their child make progress. When a comprehensive program is being provided the parent(s) involvement is paramount. Without their ongoing involvement it may affect their child’s prognosis.

We recommend that parents overlap with each clinician one time per week in order to insure carryover of treatment goals outside of therapy time.

Additionally, we recommend parents do the following:

• Read program plans and session notes that are provided in your child’s treatment log
• Ask clinical staff any questions you may have during the last 10 minutes of their treatment session, or leave written notes in the treatment log
• Attend all parent training sessions
• Openly communicate with all staff members
• Follow through with program recommendations in everyday interaction with your child
• Set up play dates upon request
• Provide developmentally appropriate toys and set up of the home environment to enhance play and communication development
• Assist in the identification as well as the development of reinforcers for your child
• One parent or caregiver MUST be in the home at all times when a therapy session is being provided in the home environment. Parents of children under 18 months of age will be required to participate even more frequently in their children’s treatment sessions.

The Role of the Parent(s)

Each member of the interdisciplinary team will request your involvement in the treatment process. On average, parents will participate in at least one session per week per discipline. In addition, it is typical to have one parent training session per week with the behavior analyst/specialist. This session may take place in the home or community environment and the focus of the session is on parent education.

CLC strongly encourages a hands-on approach so parents feel effective at teaching and playing with their child, as well as handling behavioral challenges in multiple environments.

Parents may utilize these sessions to present a challenge they are experiencing with their child.

The behavior analyst/specialist then follows a step-by-step training process:

1. Determine, with the parent, the function of the behavior. In other words, why is the behavior occurring? What are the antecedents that trigger the behavior? What consequences are following the behavior that may encourage the child to continue the behavior?
2. Determine a solution(s) to the challenge.
3. Agree on a plan to deal with the behavioral challenge and write out the plan for all parents and caregivers to follow.
4. Demonstrate the plan through role playing.
5. Have the parent role play the plan.
6. If appropriate, have the parent implement the plan while the behavioral therapist or other staff members are available. It is important to talk about the plan but it is more important to be an active participant in the implementation of the plan.