Welcome to Plumtree Professional

Research on family-centred practice has led to an update of the model to highlight the element of intentional capacity building as a mediator of the benefits for intervention with families (Dunst, Hamby, Raab 2019, Dunst, Espe-Sherwindt, Hamby, 2019, Dunst & Trivette, 2009). The capacity-building paradigm uses a strengths-based approach to focus on building the supports, resources, experiences and opportunities for parents, children and families.

However, despite over 20 years of evidence reinforcing this approach, it is still common for families to experience traditional deficit-based models where professionals are situated as experts to the detriment of parental expertise.

We have addressed this by developing new programs and resources designed to promote greater family participation. Our training for professionals also uses the same capacity-building approaches we use with families. Capacity-building professional development is related to practitioners’ use of capacity-building family-centered practices (Dunst, Espe-Sherwindt, Hamby 2019). It is in the long-term interest of families that they have multiple opportunities for capacity building from the earliest possible time as this will lead to better outcomes for the child and family as a whole.

Training to enrich professionals’ skills at building partnerships with families can only carry us half of the way. Families need to build the bridge from the other side and prepare themselves for this partnership, stepping into a new space and positioning themselves as active partners. Now & Next shows how families learning together can create new discussions with professionals to bring about new outcomes for their child and families.