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BBI Family Partner Project Application
Overview of the Request for Application (RFA)
The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), the technical assistance arm of ACRC, is excited to offer providers of residential interventions, committed to hiring or having already hired at least one family partner, the opportunity to participate in The Family Partner Project.
Provide a group of residential programs, chosen through a simple application process, with a range of technical assistance (TA) activities. The TA activities will focus on successfully preparing their organizations for, and/or supporting hiring and/or developing support systems for, and integrating family partner(s) fully into their organizations, and enhancing family-driven care practices.
At the end of the project, leaders/staff from each participating program will have enthusiasm for BBI, appreciation for the TA provided, and believe they have the tools to be successful with family partners.
Definition of a Family Partner:
Family Partners may also be referred to as parent partners or advocates, parent peer support specialists, peer advocates, family navigators or other terms, such as credible messengers.
The most important requirement is that a Family Partner is someone who has navigated the system as a parent or caregiver of a child with emotional and/or behavioral challenges. Because of their lived experience, Family Partners have a unique ability to engage as peers of families receiving services, supporting them with empathy and understanding. Family Partners may also participate in program and system development through membership on planning and policy-making bodies at various levels. Some also have specific expertise in residential interventions, substance abuse, or the child-welfare and/or juvenile-justice systems.
Family Partners provide intentional peer support to parents and/or family caregivers through strategic self-disclosure related to their own family experience. They provide non-adversarial advocacy. They suspend bias and blame in all interactions with parents/family guardians and professionals. They encourage parents/family guardians to practice self-care while building on their own unique strengths. Family Partners convey hope, build connections, provide resources and linkages, offer opportunities for culturally responsive education and skill building, and encourage parents/family guardians to utilize their voices to be part of problem-solving.
