Primary Service Provider Model
- Posted by Lynda Cook Pletcher on Wednesday, 2008-02-20 at 14:28:02
1.Does your state use the method of service delivery called
a "Primary Service Provider" Model?
2. Are you adopting or adapting from which or whose national work ?
3. Who has provided training, TA or consulted with your state on the primary service provider approach?
4. In your PP model is "coaching families" the method that providers use most frequently in their work?
- Posted by Jan Wrathall on Friday, 2008-02-22 at 19:20:01
Our state has not implemented this model, but in King County (metroSeattle), we offered ta/training to 5 of our non-profit service
providers (with teams up to 6 people each) to become proficient in this
model. Dathan Rush and M'Lisa Sheldon conducted the ta, which consisted
of a pre-training 1/2 day presentation. This provided an opportunity to
orient the team members around the model, and to describe what the rest
of the training would consist of. Dathan and M'Lisa then had an
opportunity to introduce them to and to review the materials they have
on their web site which begins the immersion into the practice. Their
training was extensive--they met with each of the teams separately (in
person), required "homework" from each team member which was to maintain
coaching logs of the families they selected to begin using the model
with. Then over the course of about 6 months, these coaching logs were
sent to Dathan and M'Lisa who reviewed each of them, provided specific
feedback in accordance with the standards they trained to, via monthly
conference calls with each team individually.
(Robin McWilliam came and did a great workshop a couple of years ago,
and I think he helped set the stage for the ensuing boot camp.)
It has now been not quite a year after this process began. (The boot
camp was about a year ago, and they completed the conference calls last
fall). Of the five teams, I would say none has maintained the model
with total fidelity--4 have continued to practice the model with
modifications. I believe, to varying degrees, that they are practicing
the concept of "primary service provider", utilizing coaching. I do
think there has been some struggle with falling back into a
"multidisciplinary" model. (starting to bring out various disciplines
to co-visit with more frequency than one might think is necessary).
Also, I think there has been a tendency to revert back into the
therapist taking over the session as the "doer" instead of the coach.
It requires constant vigilance and frequent reminders of how to
effectively coach and at this time we do not have training available for
those who participated. We are looking at ways to provide a "booster" to
those agencies/teams which participated in boot camp--especially those
agencies which have had staff turnover--and agencies do experience staff
turnover with this model as it is quite different from what folks are
taught in their educational programs.
As an administrator type, I personally think the model is
wonderful--very conducive to functional outcomes, family focused and
totally in keeping with enhancing parent competencies. Our agencies
have received some positive family feedback. I really wish we could get
all of our provider agencies on board, but we do not at this time.
Dathan and M'Lisa are also wonderful!