Best Practices:

Client Intake Best Practices Check-List:

Client Intake: When you start parenting classes with your client, it is difficult to know their needs. These needs are based on many things but the single most significant factor in their parenting skills is HOW THEY WERE PARENTED. If there was abuse, molestation, neglect, drugs, alcohol or significant dysfunction in the family, it colors the lens through which your client sees their world. If this is the case, all of the practical knowledge about diapering and feeding won’t impact the faulty foundation.

It is extremely beneficial to know vital information on your client’s upbringing before you start counseling or parenting classes. Used and tested extensively at Living Hope Women’s Center in Show Low, Arizona, the Getting Acquainted workbook is an incredible tool in assessing whether your client was abused emotionally, verbally, physically and/or sexually. It also gives you a clear understanding of the family dynamics and support system that will almost always surface in the client’s parenting style.

Getting Acquainted comes as six pages that can be downloaded from www.EWYL.org for your center’s use. You can change the form to make it uniquely your own. Also available is a one hour instructional audio CD that will help your center make the best use of this powerful tool.

After you have assessed your client’s situation and due date, use our personalized lesson plan (see the following page) to determine which lessons are most important.

For example, if she smokes, you will want to give her the SMOKING lesson first. If she is single, include the Going It Alone lesson in her plan. At a glance, any facilitator can determine the best lessons for the client and create a plan for future lessons.

Getting Acquainted: Start by welcoming client and Explain purpose of forms The “Getting Acquainted” forms are very personal. Talk to your client about why they are being used, about how they will help you decide the most important lessons, about their ability to skip anything that makes them uncomfortable, and how you are not there to judge them but just to get to know them better.

Offer help with the forms:: Most medical offices are very busy and just push forms through a window. As the purpose of these forms is to build relationships, make an effort to be available for any questions or to encourage the client. The form is a tool to create better relationships and effective counseling; that starts with time and concern for the client.

Keep Contents Private:: The answers on the sheets do not need to be shared unless there is a compelling reason. Instead, treat the form and its contents with respect in a way that builds confidence with your client.

Reviewing the Form::

Remember the Purpose: The form is really just a way to get to know the client and help the facilitator provide the best counseling possible. Look through the sheets, try to understand where your client is coming from and allow yourself to feel empathy for them.

Look for Flags:: Certain events in a person’s life can cause life-long hurt. Look for these on the form and prepare to work with the client as needed. Use the information wisely so that the lessons may have a true impact on your clients.

Talk with the Client:: Talk to the client and offer encouragement and support. Use the information from the form to start the conversation but don’t read directly from the form during the conversation. Instead, read the form before the session, talk to the client while looking them in the eyes, and only refer to it if you must. Help the client feel welcome - they are likely nervous and need to feel accepted.