Families and children are the people we serve
We should LISTEN to what they have to say!
A Family – Centred Care Approach
Optimizing the well being of children, youth and families is at the heart of all SACYHN activities. In order to accomplish this, it is essential that their opinions, concerns and ideas be included in the work we do. SACYHN promotes family-centred care and believes it is essential that parents, children and youth be partners in the planning, delivery and evaluation of child-focussed services. We are committed to the following important principles of family-centred care:
- families, children and youth will be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion
- information will be shared in a complete, open and unbiased manner and in ways that families and youth find useful and supportive
- families and young people possess many strengths and much diversity; family-centred care is committed to building on their capacity
- decisions will be made in partnership with families and youth including those decisions which influence policy and program development, professional education and the delivery of child-focussed care.
Working from a family-centred perspective helps to ensure that we remained focussed on our overall commitment to children, youth and their families. Thus far, SACYHN has involved families in a number of ways:
- parents sit on the SACYHN Steering Committee as decision making partners who help to guide the development of the Network
- parents form the core of SACYHN’s Family Youth Participation Working Group, providing input and direction on all key activities
- parents have participated in a number of focus groups, providing feedback on specific issues which are relevant to SACYHN and are of importance to them and their children.
The voices of children and youth, the consumers of child related services, are also of great importance to SACYHN. As we evolve, increased effort will be made to build partnerships with young people who can provide direction about their own issues, ideas and concerns. So far, children and youth have been actively participating as consultants in the planning and design of the new Alberta Children’s Hospital. This consultation will continue through to the hospital’s completion.
Questions about Our Work or Interested in Getting Involved?
We are currently working to involve parents and youth from all over Central and Southern Alberta. Parents and young people may participate in many ways, ranging from committee membership, to one time consultation, or simply by providing an opinion, sharing an experience or making a creative suggestion. If you have an interest in contributing to the work of SACYH.