What is Caregiver & Family Engagement?

Family engagement is an active partnership between families and service providers. It can be an individual relationship between a clinician and a family, an organizational alliance between an agency and families in their community, or a systemic recognition of family-centered care. Regardless of the definition, when families are engaged, programs and services are stronger and young people are healthier.

There are three main categories of involvement for families:

Families as recipients of services

Programs are typically led by professionals and improve the ability to deal with behaviours through improved problem-solving and reduced stress.

Family-led supports/programs/Families as co-therapists

Families helping families such as family-driven support groups and mutual support programs are associated with reduced subjective burden and distress.

Engagement through the process of involvement

Factors that impact on family involvement in care (e.g., therapeutic alliance, empowerment, expectations of families and choice).

Family-centered care is based on the following principles:

Recognition that families are experts in the needs of their loved ones
Practices that promote equal partnerships among family members, service providers and the client
Supports the family’s role in decision making and contributions to ongoing care and planning for the client