Family Road Map Guide
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The Five-Point Guiding Star to Navigating Systems<br />
The process of finding your way through all the complicated procedures and paperwork to get services for your child is<br />
called "navigating a system." Over the years, most families travel through many systems with very different rules, providers,<br />
and procedures. Plus, systems themselves keep changing as new programs come and go. How do you navigate<br />
through a confusing world where the landmarks keep shifting? The answer is to use your Guiding Star.<br />
The five points on the Guiding Star are five tasks that will keep you oriented and on the right road--no matter<br />
what system you are navigating. The Guiding Star can help you sort through the confusion and chunk up a big job into<br />
tasks you can handle. It can also help you get respect from the providers on your team, and better results in any system.<br />
This book is organized around step-by-step ways to navigate a system, using all five points of the Guiding Star*.<br />
1<br />
Set<br />
GOALS<br />
Decide what you are looking for based on the strengths and<br />
concerns of your child or youth, and your family (including<br />
yourself). Life is simpler when everyone on your team understands<br />
your child’s or youth's--and your family’s--priorities.<br />
5<br />
Find<br />
SUPPORT<br />
Find people and<br />
resources to help you<br />
cope with challenges<br />
and create the future<br />
you want for your<br />
family.<br />
2<br />
Learn<br />
SYSTEM<br />
BASICS<br />
Become familiar with key words,<br />
procedures, and provider<br />
roles so you understand what<br />
choices you have, where to find<br />
services, and how to get those<br />
services.<br />
4<br />
Manage<br />
INFORMATION<br />
Keep good records. Observe and<br />
report on your child’s or youth’s<br />
progress. Insist on clear explanations<br />
for any data (such as test scores) that<br />
are used to make decisions about<br />
treatment or services.<br />
3Build RELATIONSHIPS<br />
Communicate clearly, and show you<br />
expect to be included in all decisions as<br />
a full partner. Find people who can help<br />
you meet goals, handle system barriers,<br />
and solve problems.<br />
(Special thanks to Team Up for Families/<strong>Family</strong> <strong>Road</strong> <strong>Map</strong> Learning Collaborative Administrator and Certified Trainer Angela Lassiter, who named this five-point process<br />
our "Guiding Star.”)<br />
5
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