Ch 3- Working with Families and Interprofessional Teams

Which statement best reflects how occupational therapists work with children with disabilities and their families?

• Therapy is based upon the child and family needs; the therapist must adapt to meet their needs.

• Recommendations are based upon the therapist’s expertise; parents must make every effort to meet the recommendations.

• The primary client is the child or youth; the therapists focuses on the client’s needs.

• Therapy is based upon the child and family system; the therapist helps the child engage in the family occupations.

Answer explanation

The therapist learns about the family system and makes recommendations based upon the child and family’s needs. Family-centered care is a collaborative process with the therapist providing therapy that allows the child to engage in family occupations.

How should therapists communicate with parents and family?

• Share information with both parents to lessen the stress on just one parent.

• Share information with one parent to assure that it is accurate.

• Share information with everyone who comes in contact with the child (family or not). [within HIPAA allowance]

• Only include information in writing to be sure you communicated clearly.

Answer explanation

Often, the caregiving parent has the potential to be more isolated, yet he or she is also the person who interacts with others about the child and may experience more support in that regard. The primary caregiving parent has the added burden of sharing information with his or her partner, which may also increase the level of stress. Professionals need to be sure to include both parents, as well as other caregivers, in their communications about a child to ensure that information is transmitted accurately and unburden the caregiving parent of the responsibility of transmitting all the information.

Why should an occupational therapist take time to get to know the things a family does together, their weekly routine, and an explanation of family membership?

• Involvement in family is central to best practice.

• It is not needed, but it is nice to do.

• To complete demographic information for insurance purposes.

• To determine if they have values of which the practitioner agrees.

Answer explanation

Understanding the family culture is central to best practice. The child is part of an individual family. Understanding the culture will help the therapist design effective intervention that will promote family participation.

Which type of parenting style is associated with children who rank higher on many measures of social and cognitive development?

• Warm, responsive, positive

• Neutral, rigid, critical

• Absent, unstructured, negative

• Cold, neglectful, negative

Answer explanation

Regardless of ethnic background, socioeconomic status, or parenting practices, a parenting style that is warm, responsive, and positive and that provides structure and learning opportunities is associated with children who rank higher on many measures of social and cognitive development.

Which approach is best when developing a home program regarding self-care?

• Require parent repeat new steps on a routine basis and document progress.

• Add new home programs each week with clear instructions for parent to complete the assignments.

• List all the steps and without practicing it, require the parent teach it to the child.

• At the request of the parent, practice the new steps until the child is ready to carryover at home.

Answer explanation

Any extra time that the therapist asks the parent to spend teaching new steps in self-care should be in response to a parent’s identified need. Therapists should make sure that the child is able to be successful before requiring the parent follow through at home.