PATHWAYS TO STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS

1. PATHWAYS TO STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS Module 5E – Voluntary Family Plan Group Process Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development 1

2. Job Competencies • Enhance ability to create a positive Family Support Network team environment. • Use knowledge of stages of team development, the facilitator's role, and intervention strategies in each stage to facilitate the work of the team. • Use knowledge of levels of team functioning to intervene effectively when the team is "stuck" and not able to complete a task. • Use knowledge of group roles to help create a positive team environment and to facilitate the work of the team. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

3. Definition of A Group • A group is a collection of three or more individuals with a common bond. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

4. Definition of a Team • A team is a type of group. Three or more individuals come together to achieve a clear and compelling goal that they have participated in defining. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

5. Team Example: 90’s Bulls Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

6. 5 Advantageous Team Building Conditions • There's a need to create a high level of cohesion and commitment to a common goal Why is there a need to create a high level of cohesion and commitment to a common goal on a Family Support Network team? Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

7. 5 Advantageous Team Building Conditions • There's an ongoing task for the group to accomplish Is there an ongoing task for a Family Support Network team to accomplish? What is it? Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

8. 5 Advantageous Team Building Conditions • A consistent set of people will be working closely over an extended period. Is there a consistent set of people who will be working on the Family Support Network team for an extended period of time? Who would those people be? Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

9. 5 Advantageous Team Building Conditions • Members need to link and coordinate their roles closely Is it important for people to coordinate their roles on a child and family team? Why? Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

10. 5 Advantageous Team Building Conditions • Increased empowerment will result in increased effectiveness Can participation on a Family Support Network team increase a family's sense of empowerment? How? Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

11. Family as a Team • A family is a specific type of team. How does a family fit the definition of a team? Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

12. Facilitator Responsibilities • Provide focus • Provide structure • Manage the meeting environment • Lead the team to consensus decision making • Manage disruptions and difficulties • Solicit feedback Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

13. Stages of Development (Example) Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

14. All groups go through specific stages of development whether members are aware of this process or not. As a facilitator of family meetings you'll need to be able to recognize a particular team's stage of development so that your interventions can target the team's needs and help guide the team successfully through each stage. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

15. Stages of Team Development • Pre-affiliation • Power and Control • Intimacy • Differentiation • Separation Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

16. Pre-Affiliation • Uncertainty about joining the group • Low level of trust • Low level of commitment • Need direction; more dependent on leader Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

17. Pre-Affiliation Activity • Select a partner and find a place to sit where you can talk comfortably. • Share what it is like to join a new team. (One person tells their experience while their partner actively listens to what is shared; 5 minutes each.)) • Discuss how your experiences could potentially impact your work as facilitators in the pre-affiliation stage of development. (5 minutes total) Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

18. Pre-Affiliation Role-Play • Read the case-study and the pre-affiliation scenario (Handout 5C-1) • Select the role you will play • Role-play an initial meeting • Discuss the team’s goals • Develop the family plan • Observer will use the checklist to provide feedback later. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

19. Role-Play Debriefing • Observers – share the information on the checklist • Team Members – discuss reactions to what occurred during the family meeting • Facilitators – discuss what worked well and what barriers were experienced. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

20. Power and Control • Emergence of conflict and power struggles • Cliques and personal animosities • Low productivity • Sense of ineffectiveness Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

21. Power and Control Activity • Return to your partner. • Share how you deal with conflict. (5 minutes each) • Discuss how your experiences could potentially impact your work during the power and control stage of development. (5 minutes total) Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

22. As facilitator during the power and control stage your role is to listen attentively and address conflict as it emerges, resolving issues collaboratively. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

23. Intimacy • Recognize and value commonalities • Beginning cohesiveness • Increasing satisfaction • Strong sense of unity Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

24. Intimacy Stage Activity • Return to your partner. • Share how you react to having to give feedback and hearing feedback about your performance. (5 minutes each) • Discuss how your reactions could potentially impact your work with a team in the intimacy stage of development. (5 minutes total) Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

25. As facilitator during the intimacy stage your role is to support problem identification and problem solving efforts and encourage member empowerment. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

26. Differentiation • High commitment to group goal • High productivity • Roles and responsibilities clear • Conflict managed by members • High quality decisions Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

27. Differentiation Activity • Return to your partner • Share how you tend to react to sharing leadership, or letting others take charge. (5 minutes each) • Share how your reactions could potentially impact your work in the differential stage of group development. (5 minutes total) Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

28. As facilitator during the differentiation stage of development your role is to confirm the team's goals and promote organized and systematic efforts to work on them. The emphasis is also on allowing and supporting team members to exercise leadership and lend their strengths to the work of the group. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

29. Separation • Dealing with the loss of meaningful and productive relationships • Recognition and celebration of group's accomplishments Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

30. Separation Activity • Return to your partner. • Share how you reacted to and dealt with previous losses. (5 minutes each) • Discuss how your reactions could potentially impact their work in the separation stage. (5 minutes total) Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

31. Your facilitator role during this stage is to help the team members end well. This includes recognizing and celebrating their success as well as finding ways to say good-bye to each other. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

32. Separation – Role Play • Return to your group of six • Read the Separation role play • Select a different role than you had the last time • Role play a Family Meeting • Review the status of the aftercare plan • Celebrate the parents’ accomplishments • Discuss how the reconstituted team will function after DR closes the case. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

33. Separation Role-Play Debriefing • Observer – share the feedback from the observation checklist • Other participants – discuss what occurred during the family meeting • Facilitator – discuss what worked well and what barriers were experienced Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

34. Levels of Team Functioning • Process • Content • Personal Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

35. If the group is stuck on one level, an intervention on a different level is often the best way to move things along. Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

36. Identifying Roles • Formal roles inside the team • Informal roles that aren’t assigned • Roles can’t be assumed without the team’s permission • Individual must be willing to assume the role Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

37. Roles - Maintenance • Leader • Group Nurturer • Includer • Gatekeeper • Subject Changer Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

38. Roles - Problematic • Scapegoat • Monopolist • Isolate Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development

39. Summary – Group Process • Questions • Concerns Division of Service Support, Office of Training and Professional Development