What is Network?
Network is an innovative approach to working with families whose children have a serious emotional disability and may need the help of a variety of services. It is a "family friendly" planning process that concentrates on a family/individual strengths rather than on problems or deficits. All of the service providers who are working with your family, school representative(s), and whoever you think would be helpful are invited to attend. We encourage the whole family to come as this is a family planning process. The goal is to create one coordinated individualized plan which is family driven. A Network meeting always focuses on what the family needs.

Why would I go to a Network meeting?
Families turn to Network when they need the help of more than one system or agency. Network both simplifies the situation by providing one coordinated service plan and expands the pool of services available to the family.

Who will be there?
Parent(s) are asked to sign a consent form prior to the meeting. A list of people to be invited would be on that form. A school representative is asked to come and if there is a "home school" and a "placement school" both would have someone working with the youth at the meeting. This is a family-friendly meeting. Network members are committed to treating you with respect by sharing the viewpoint that you are the expert on your family situation. You are an equal partner in the planning process. Relatives, friends, neighbors, and professionals are welcomed to attend if you want them to. Also, in attendance will be at least one parent, called the Family Partner, who has already experienced the Network process.

Role of Family Partner
The role of the family partner is to offer support in whatever way is most helpful to each individual family. By focusing on family strengths they support a more positive outlook for the future.

Before the Network meeting a Family Partner contacts the family to explain the process and purpose of Network. They answer questions and assist the family in inviting people who are important to them and their children. Family partners have been through similar experiences, each having a family member who is seriously emotionally disturbed. They share information, advocate and offer support, understanding first hand their struggle.

After the Network meeting, Family Partners continue to maintain contact and offer support. They are responsible for insuring that the plan is functioning and/or offering to set up another meeting to refine or alter the plan.

What will happen at Network?
Network members will introduce themselves to you and you will quickly notice that the style of the meeting is informal. Network members will help you identify the unique strengths, special interests, and accomplishments of each family member. You will be asked why you are bringing this situation to Network. Each person present has input into this process. From this combination of your families' identified strengths and your own identification of what your family needs, a preliminary plan, making use of all of the communities' resources, is shaped by you and the Network members. We will ask a small group of people to be part of a support circle for you and your family, so that the Network plan can move forward. You will be part of that decision also.

Network is a collaboration between Family Empowerment Council, Inc. and Orange County Department of Mental Health.