Relational and Participatory Helpgiving

relational - active listening - showing compassion, being empathetic - respecting and valuing others - being non-judgmental - offering help that matches desires - believing in parents
participatory -including families - sharing information for family choice making - supporting family decisions -helping families get resources they need

Effective Early Interventionists use both

Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practices

Relational Practices refer to the FEELINGS that providers use to build relationship, including empathy, non-judgment and belief in the caregiver's capacity. Participatory Practices refer to the ACTION both providers and caregivers take to practice new skills, make decisions and resolve problems.

"The two components of effective helpgiving strategies, relational and participatory helpgiving, both must be present in order to achieve positive outcomes for help receivers. Use of only relational helpgiving behaviors (e.g., compassion, empathy, openness) will not promote and enhance the help receiver’s capacity."

(Dunst & Espe-Sherwindt, 2016; Dunst & Trivette, 2009; Trivette & Dunst, 2014)
feelings + action = helpgiving


Choosing Relationship

over Control

In the The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook, Drs. Rush and Shelden describe "choosing relationship over control" (2nd Edition, p 24). In order for providers to embrace this, we must place strong emphasis on acknowledging and understanding another person's perspective, especially if it is different from our own point of view.

the word relationship is over the word control with a line between

Food for Thought:

What does it mean to you to put "relationship over control" with caregivers? Consider a situation where a caregiver's priority is different from your own:

How might you react?

What would "choosing relationship over control" look like in your visits?

What might happen if you choose control instead?

Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practice Examples

Framework for Reflective Questioning R&S.pdf
Relational_Participatory Helpgiving Practices.pdf
examples of is the action participatory or relational. Provides open and honest information- relational, values family opinions-relational, encourages family to build upon strategy they are already using-participatory


Reflect on your current practice:

  • How do you intentionally use relational practices and participatory practices with every family?

  • Which families are easiest to use relational practices with? Which are the hardest? What do you think about the differences?

  • Which families are easiest to use participatory practices with? Which are the hardest? What ideas do you have to increase consistency?

  • What would help you be more prepared to use both relational and participatory helpgiving practices?

  • What might you do differently going forward?

Relational and Participatory Helpgiving Practices Idea Bank

Participatory Helpgiving Practices BANK
SCENARIOS: Relational/Participatory Helpgiving Practices BANK