Workshops
Workshops Available for Parents and Professionals
The Family Support Institute is able to offer the following workshops to interested groups and organizations. For more information, please contact the FSI office.
** Scheduled Workshops **
Preschool Transitions - Preparing for Change Together
Leaving High School - What's Next?
Parents, Partners in Education
Effective Advocacy Strengthens Community
Parent Professional Relationships
Brothers and Sisters
Circle of Friends
Families Leading the Way
Key Roles For Families In Ensuring Good Lives
All workshops have been developed as full day workshops (9am - 3pm) and have been adapted for half day or evening presentations (1 - 3 hours).
We are constantly training new presenters for our workshops, so trainees may be co-facilitating as part of our mentoring program. We value the feedback we receive on our evaluations so we can continually improve our presentations.
For more information about the Family Support Institute contact our office at 604-540-8374 ext. 523 or email 
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FSI Upcoming Workshops - For more information, please contact the FSI office. Space is limited so register NOW!!
Preschool Transitions - Preparing for Change Together
For Parents and/or Professionals
The transition from preschool into school can be particularly challenging for parents and their children when extra supports are required and extra care is needed to ensure a smooth process. This workshop is designed for both parents and professionals to learn new tools and strategies for sound planning during any transition years.
Leaving High School - What's Next?
For Parents
How do you prepare for this big change in your son's or daughter's life? This workshop is designed to help families understand how to prepare for their son's or daughter's transition from high school into a full life in the community. Drawing on the experiences of many parents and professionals, we will discuss roles and responsibilities, the planning process, planning tools and available resources and services.
Parents, Partners in Education
For Parents
The objective of this workshop is to assist parents to become more effective partners in their child's education to enhance their own son's or daughter's school experience. This is done through sharing of information and strategies.
This workshop will provide an overview of the education system in B.C, as it relates to families who have children with extra support needs. In particular it will cover the roles and responsibilities of the parents and students, the parents role in partnership and planning, important legislation and policy re: special education, and tips for education advocacy.
Effective Advocacy Strengthens Community
For Parents
Effective advocacy skills help us and others get the support and services our families need while strengthening our communities. We will look at the different types of advocacy, the roles of various organizations, how effective advocacy strengthens communities, the advocacy process, and what it means to be an effective advocate. This workshop is interactive and practical and emphasizes good communication, negotiation and assertiveness skills.
Parent Professional Relationships
For Parents and/or Professionals
Parents and professionals are increasingly aware that an effective outcome for a child cannot occur without a collaborative relationship that is characterized by mutual respect, sharing of expertise, and joint decision making.
This workshop will draw on a participants' personal commitment to the idea that there is value in parents and professionals working together as equal members of a team. The format will allow for a sharing of feelings that parents and professionals have about each other, examining the benefits and barriers of partnership and move to demonstrate the ways they can work together effectively and respectfully.
For Parents and/or Professionals
Growing up with a brother or sister with a disability involves some very strong feelings. The usual stresses, joys and fears experienced by brothers and sisters can be intensified in families where a son or daughter has a disability. This workshop will focus upon some of the common issues which can arise.
Parents will be encouraged to develop strategies for assisting with social situations. Other goals of the workshop are to enable parents to help their "typical" children to see the benefit of having a brother or sister with a disability and to provide parents with ideas and resources for having fun with all their children.
This workshop may include a panel of brothers and sisters.
For Parents and/or Professionals
To have and be a friend is critical to our being and the experience of friendship brings meaning to all our lives. This workshop will highlight practical ways to support and enhance friendship opportunities for children who experience the challenges related to having a disability.
Emphasis will be on supporting natural connections between home, school and community, as well as strategies for developing more intentional connections and friendship possibilities.
The concept known as the "Circle of Friends" will be discussed, provided information and ideas on how to put a circle in place.
For Parents
Families are invited to explore their leadership role and brainstorm ways to create a healthy balance of support for their families and guide the changing services from agencies and government to ensure they are responsive to our needs!
Over the past decades, many families have been leaders by supporting other families and helping to create services that are taken for granted today. We are easily lulled into thinking that services are forever, however, there are no assurances when it comes to service delivery. This time of high stress and demand, and the dizzying speed of changes in the service system, identifies the need for us to work collectively to maintain the status quo and to continue the work of improving support for our families through formal and informal means.
Key Roles For Families In Ensuring Good Lives
For Parents and Professionals
Have you ever wanted to find new and innovative ways to keep your child safe and happy? This workshop has been designed by parents to help develop the knowledge and skills to assist you in the pursuit of you and your loved ones dreams for a good life.
Safeguards: "The mechanisms used to ensure that people are kept safe and not put at increased risk because of vulnerabilities."
Quality Service: "Ensuring that our family members enjoy lives that are not only safe but are high in quality."
This workshop will explore:
- Why we need to plan for our children's future
- What are safeguards, why they are important, and what can we do about it.
- The difference between formal and informal safeguards.
- How to develop informal safeguards.
- Identify challenges and to develop strategies to overcome them.
- How to recognize and monitor quality in the services and supports our children receive.
- Advocacy, Importance of Planning.
