Families' Challenges: Educators Need to Build a Bridge - Essay Sample

Introduction

Families are facing many challenges such that they cannot concentrate on their children’s education as educators do (Turnbull et al., 2011). The challenges include loneliness, isolation, unawareness of community resources to systemic issues affecting families, pervasion, and lack of care for children (Turnbull et al., 2011). Teachers need to be the bridge between parents and the troubling children by partnering with various families and communicating with them about helpful community, state, and national resources.

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Moreover, Turnbull et al. posit that in order to support families, the availability of resources is very essential in ensuring that their basic needs, emotional needs, informational finances, and safety are met. Therefore, it is very imperative for the teachers to also partner with other educators, social workers, psychologists, and counselors who have additional insights into helping the families (Turnbull et al., 2011). Also, parent to parent programs can be very productive in equipping parents with skills necessary to advance their parental care. This can be achieved by engaging other parents with related training on the parental role. For example, a parent with a child with a disability can be referred to another parent trained in managing children with disabilities.

According to Turnbull et al. (2011), it is very important to find out which program the families would prefer to use before offering support. For example, parent to parent programs or parent support groups. This is much preferred when dealing with family emotional needs. Moreover, Turnbull et al. opine that when these programs are executed professionally, they also provide valuable information to the families. Parent to parent support only involves two parents having a one-on-one support meeting. However, family support groups bring together many parents with similar problems. These families then meet professionals who help them to develop even stronger future orientations.

Reflection

First, I have understood that many families are experiencing serious challenges from emotional to financial challenges. It was insightful to realize that as a result of gross family challenges, parents do not pay much attention to their children’s education as teachers would do. This results in children being lonely and developing the feeling of being isolated.

Secondly, I found that teachers can provide great support to troubled families. However, for effective family support, it became obvious that teachers must work hand in hand with professional bodies and parent support groups. I discovered that when the support is executed professionally, it gives more value to the parents. I also learned that parents might have a varied view of how they need to be supported either by one-on-one parent support or family support groups. I have realized the importance of consultation as it ensures that parents get the support that resonates with their problems.

Thirdly, I realized that a wide range of resources might be needed for effective support, such as informational support resources, parent centers, local community resources, and robust family organizations. I found out that these resources have varied means in dealing with different family challenges. For example, local community resources play key roles in parent sensitization about real-time family issues. Moreover, I realized that technology has a very significant role as a resource; for example, the internet allows ease of access to real-time information by enabling parents to access online support organizations.

Reference

Turnbull, A. P., Turnbull,R., Erwin, E. J., Soodak, L. C., & Shogren, K. A. (2011). Families, professionals, and exceptionality: Positive outcomes through partnerships and trust.