Crystal Fabiano
Resources for families
1) Bethesda
2) Niagara Region Children's Services
3) Niagara Children's Center
4) Niagara Support Services
About this Portfolio
The purpose of this portfolio is to show all that I have learned in this course so far and my journey to reaching my goal of becoming a resource consultant. Hopefully, this will let you in on my experiences and it models what I have learned in this field placement so far.
I hope that the resources I have added are useful and show I am trying to stay current with the best practices in this field. If you have any questions and/or suggestions for me that would be greatly appreciated.
Contact info:
Crystal Fabiano
Phone:289-929-7265
Topic 1
Effective Communication, Collaborative team models, Family Service Teams, and Conflict Resolution
The most important part of starting a consultation is having effective communication skills. I always remember to remain professional and understanding. The Family Service Team needs proper communication to be functional and effective for the best interest of the child. Listening and having compassion for the families is also an important part of communicating. Remain open to suggestions and other ideas is key to working collaboratively. Parents are experts on their children and walk them into the ideas slowly, keeping in mind all of the emotions behind the way they may be communicating. Managing egos and being objective are also key in creating a Family Service Plan and for conflict resolution. Everyone has their own point of view. In this field placement, I have been in meetings where everyone does not by into what the Resource Consultant is saying or an RECE is not following through with a strategy because they just are not paying attention long enough when the Resource Consultant is modeling the strategy. When things like this are happening you stay calm, deliver your suggestions in a kind but educated way, keep your body language in check, and come give the family time to cool off or the RECE time to see that they can come back to it and realize we are working together. RECE’s, physicians, parents, Resource Consultants, etc all may have their ideas about what is the best way to proceed. Listen to all the information, collect all the data in your mind from what you are hearing in the meeting, and make sure you get it across that you respect their ideas. That you can work off them and come to goals that you are all on board with. That is what you are trying to achieve.
Topic 2
Observations are important for collecting data to be able to collaborate with the Family Service Team.
There are a few different observation methods that can be used when you are first meeting a child and for when you may just be observing how things are going or reevaluating an existing plan. You might want to observe the child when you first meet them one one-on-one. Getting to know them, their personality, what skills they have, what skills they may need to work on, trying to figure out what their goals will be. You may also want to observe them in a small group of 2 or 3 children together to see how they relate to other children, what social skills they may or may not have developed yet, and what their behaviour is like in that group. Lastly a larger group. It really depends on the reasons they were referred and what you are there to achieve in the beginning or throughout. Based on the conversations you are having you can decide where you start or what observation method you will choose to use. Once you have enough information you can bring it to the Family Service team to discuss.
There are several different kinds of screening tools that we learned about. The Nippissing District Developmental Screen, the Brigance Early Childhood Screen, and the Ages and Stages Questionare. The Resource Consultant can choose the screening tool that they feel is right to administer depending on the needs of the child. The results of the screening tool will allow you to begin coming up with strategies you can put in place to start supporting the child. When beginning to roll out the strategies it is good to keep the Tier method in your mind. The child, depending on the circumstances, may need to ease into things. Starting slowly and building on it may give you better results than jumping right in.
Topic 3
Family Service Plans, Adaptations, Modifications Interventions, and Evaluations
Adaptations, Modifications, and Interventions are an important part of what a Resource Consultant does. It is essential that the Family Support Plan is evaluated and changes can be made. Things can be added, taken away, and changed in a way that fits the child better. For example in my placement a child already had a plan set in place and was having more behaviours in an already highly behavioural room. So we went in and observed. Everything was being done for him or given to him when he gestured. This child was already having difficulties with speech and had visuals to help him communicate. So we talked about it and I suggested that we could start at the lunch table trying to give him more of a chance to use his words. We tried just waited a min prompting him to try to use his words when he needed a plate or fork or food. Just to get him to verbally say what he wanted or to try to. We talked to the educators and his parents. We said we would put this in place and in a week we would come up and observe as this was our home center and we were there often. After that week he did start to use his words more and was making more sounds. He even started doing it before the wait prompt. So the visuals strategy just needed a modification we still use the visuals as he doesn’t have all of his words. It was a small adjustment but necessary to help keep him on track to achieve his goals.
Credentials
Pedagogical Statement
I feel that all children deserve the best supports and services and should have them made available to them. Every child is different and is entitled to a plan that is tailored to them by an educated Resource Consultant. Someone who understands their needs and works with them towards their goals. offering support not only to the child but to their families as well.
Career Goals
I want to be a Resource Consultant. I have experience with children and adults with special needs and moving into this new position is the next step in my journey of being able to help families and children with special needs. I put a strong importance on the family as a unit. It is not just the one child we are supporting. We are here to communicate what is working and what could be better and the different goals for their homes/schools. It brings me joy to connect and be able to offer my support to the families at my center. Starting out in the group home with a generation of adults who grew up with parents that did not have services available to them, who may have isolated themselves because they felt shame and overwhelmed or isolated by a community who didn’t understand. I am humbled to be part of this community where parents are involved and work as a collaborative team. I am glad to be here to be able to work with these families and become a member of their team.
Professional memberships and certificates
May 2023-present
Resource Consultant Program Student
Seneca College
Ontario, Canada
June 2010-present
RECE
Niagara College
Ontario, Canada
References
Gallant,S.(2024) Introduction to Resource Consulting: Field Placement 1. Modules 1-7
Gallant,S.(2024) Evidence informed decision making. Modules 2,5,7,8,10