Seven Principles for Effective Partnerships
When entering a partnership in special education, the following are the key principles that help make the partnership postive for all those who are involved. The information is a summary of a more detailed description of these principle as found in the text Families, Professionals, and Exceptionality: Positive Outcomes Through Partnerships and Trust (6th Edition).
1. Communication
Communication is key to any effective relationship. In order to have an effective partnership, members of the partnership need to remember the following when communicating. We must strive to be friendly, listen to each other, be clear, be honest, and be open by providing important information.
2. Professional competence
This element to effective partnerships means that families can have the confidence to know that professionals working with their students have the ability to provide an appropriate education, continue to learn themselves, and set high expectations for students. In order to provide an appropriate education, professionals must commit to recognizing that all students are not the same and plan instruction and assessment based on individual student needs. Professionals must also continue to learn not only through coursework, but also by taking feedback from families on ways to improve the partnership. Professionals and families must also work together to set high expectations for students, and then work together to support students as they work to achieve these expectations.
3. Respect
Respect happens when families and professionals view each other with high regards that can be seen through words and actions with each other. Respect is shown through honoring cultural diversity, sharing strengths, and treating each other with dignity. When professionals honor cultural diversity, they know what beliefs and preferences families have, and they work to follow and incorporate them into educational planning and the partnership. Professionals must also acknowledge the strengths of families and students. Through honoring family preferences and pointing out the positive aspects of families, professionals will treat families as decision makers which ultimately helps professionals treat families with dignity.
4. Commitment
Commitment is established by sensitivity to emotional needs, being available, and going beyond the required duties of one’s job. Being sensitive to emotional needs requires both sides of the partnership to recognize that families and professionals are human and exist beyond educational planning. This sensitivity can be achieved through listening, setting up connections with other families, and finding help for families from other professionals. Since communication is also a key element of effective partnerships, professionals should work to find times for meetings and other times of communication that work for families, and when in meetings with families, professionals should remain in the meeting without having people coming in and out. Establishing commitment also takes showing families that they are more than a case to be managed.
5. equality
Equity in partnerships is when each member of the partnership feels like they have equal power. This is achieved through shared power, helping families find control over their own lives so they achieve what they want and need, and providing options for families. With equality, one partner does not have power over the other, and professionals and families share their own talents to take action and plan for an appropriate education for students.
6. Advocacy
Advocacy means that professionals will be a voice for families and students if a problem would occur. By advocating for students and families, professionals are showing their commitment to the partnership. To advocate effectively, professionals prevent problems, speak up when they sense an injustice towards a family, and accurately describe problems with specific evidence of the problem. Professionals in advocating roles also work with others in order to create positive situations that benefit everyone in the partnership.
7. Trust
Trust is perhaps the key element of a partnership. In order to establish trust, partners must be reliable and follow through with what they say they will do. In order for families to trust professionals, the professionals must also use their competency to make appropriate decisions regarding a student’s program. Professionals must also gain trust by sharing information about a student or
family only with those that need information. Professionals must also trust in their own judgment, skills, and abilities in order to show families that they can be trusted.
(Turnbull, Turnbull, Erwin, Soodak, & Shogren, 2011)
family only with those that need information. Professionals must also trust in their own judgment, skills, and abilities in order to show families that they can be trusted.
(Turnbull, Turnbull, Erwin, Soodak, & Shogren, 2011)