Possibilities for Approaching Youth with FASD : Utilizing a Relational and Strengths Based Approach
Presenter: Stephen de Groot BA, BSW, MSW, RSW
Stephen de Groot of MYRIAD Consultation and Counselling is a clinical and organizational consultant and is the author of the Relationship Based Strengths Approach (RBSA) (2003, 2008) to social work helping. Steve specializes in the development and implementation of strengths based interventions at all levels of social services systems from planning to direct service delivery and front-line practice.
For almost two decades Steve has provided support, education and training to parents and helping professionals who live and work with children and youth. Steve’s interventions have been informed by relational and strengths based principles and developed out of his successful practice experiences and life stories from more than 1000 teenagers and hundreds of families. Many of Steve’s successes have been with youth in care who have been identified by various service providers as “the most difficult”, “the most challenging” and/or having the “highest needs” for support and intervention.
Presenter: Susan Opie BA, BSW, MSW, RSW
Susan Opie has over 10 years experience working with individuals with FASD and their families, providing individual and family counseling, educational information, and advocacy with various systems impacting families and children. She has provided consultation for and individual therapy to youth with FASD in care, facilitated support groups for families affected by FASD, and provided education, consultation, and training to various systems working with families and/or children and youth with FASD. Susan has presented on topics related to FASD at conferences in Western Canada, and presented numerous workshops on FASD in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C., Yukon, and Nunavut.
Presentation Overview
This interactive workshop is highly practical in nature. It will explore concepts and principles for working with and caring for youth with FASD in a relational and strength-based way. This approach has been successfully used for over five years in caregiving by youth care workers, foster care parents and other caregivers. It provides ways to develop respectful relationships with individuals with FASD based on that individual’s perceived needs, goals, interests, hopes and desires. This approach is individualized, developed in collaboration with the specific individual, and allows for plans to be continually updated allowing individuals to change and move towards their identified goals.
Presentation Outline
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Introductions:
Setting the context for a relational and strengths based intervention approach for working with youth with FASD.
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Small group activity Part 1:
Personal reflections on working with youth with FASD.
- Overview of a Relationship Based Strengths Approach (RBSA) to helping.
- Looking at RBSA through an FASD lens.
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Being Proactive – Predicting and Preventing “Meltdowns”:
- Operationalizing the RBSA principles
- Getting to know the youth and the youth’s story
- How to promote conditions that foster positive behaviour
- Understanding and dealing effectively with “Resistance” and “Opposition”
- Practical applications for building relationships and using strengths
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Managing Crisis situations:
- Inevitability of crises – contending with the reality of individual needs, sensitivities and environmental factors
- Unpredictable to manageable: Developing a plan from the tools of proactivity
- Dealing effectively with difficult behaviours (Lying, Awoling, Stealing)
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Following a “Meltdown”:
- Restoring relationship
- Looking for the “Good”: Learning from crises and moving forward
- Self -care
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Small group activity Part II:
Reflexive exercise and practical applications of presentation material.
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Discussion Period:
Questions and Answers.