Chapter 1 - Parents and caregivers: creating a strong foundation for engagement

Abstract

This chapter provides a framework for the importance of parent engagement when working with youth in medical and therapeutic settings, and how to best navigate the parent engagement process. It explains how to build strong alliances with the parents of youth seeking treatment services, assess caregivers’ readiness for change, manage “resistance” and ruptures in the provider/patient alliance, and how to deliver parent-focused education and interventions with effective caregiver engagement. The chapter is based on social learning and motivational interviewing theories and best practices and provides easy-to-use advice about how to foster a positive engagement with caregivers and prevent and manage lack of follow-through.