| Description |
In Illinois, The Early Childhood Court Team program utilizes a relationship-based approach. The approach is developmental and prioritizes the well-being of very young children exposed to early life trauma, engages all caregivers, and ensures increased case collaboration among all sectors of the service array. The workshop describes the strategies to develop the skills, knowledge and values of the staff to enhance their capacity to respond more effectively to the developmental needs of young children. Families and children are best supported when their complex needs are identified, understood and approached in an ecological manner that empowers the parental role. The scope of these needs often overwhelms the casework agency when coordination of care is not established. This can result in a compliance orientation that fractures the helping relationship and leaves all parties overwhelmed and critical needs unmet. The element of curiosity requires the ECCT staff, that provide practice coaching to assess the capacity of the caseworker and other court professionals and to scaffold their skill development. To develop commitment to practice change, professionals must discover their own answers. When coaching with curiosity, ECCT professionals are asked powerful questions that stimulate reflection and help clarify choices. This same parallel process is critical to our collaborative work with families.
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