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A combination of professional and natural support: What's the secret to family support services?
As society pays more attention to families with special needs, family support services have become an important service system in the United States and around the world. This system provides not only monetary assistance, but also emotional support and professional services to assist families caring for a member with a disability. Whether it is children, adults or parents, family support models have evolved to meet diverse needs.
History of Family Support
The late 1970s and early 1980s were a critical period for the development of family support services in the United States. Several advocacy campaigns initiated by parents of children with disabilities have contributed to the formation of relevant policies. For example, the parents' group in New Hampshire is a vivid example.
These advocacy campaigns not only highlight the needs of families, but also draw society's attention to special needs families.
Family Model and Services
In the early 1980s, New York State established several family support programs to provide support to families with special needs. These services are not limited to traditional stress relief services, but also include new models of family support, such as care programs for professional parents.
Family support services are seen as an effective way to support families and their children and encourage family members to be integrated in the community.
The Importance of Family Counseling
The goal of family counseling is to enhance relationships and communication within the family and to resolve issues that cause tension. Whether it’s the addition of a new member to the family or a divorce, family counseling can provide important support.
During counseling, family members will be able to express their feelings and learn how to resolve conflicts in a constructive way.
Service Development and Challenges
Although family support services have been expanded in theory, in practice their implementation remains challenging due to funding and policy constraints. According to reports, by 2006, U.S. spending on family support had reached more than $2.3 billion, but it is still a small proportion compared to overall disability spending.
According to one study, only 1.5 percent of state budgets are currently spent on supporting the needs of families with developmental disabilities.
Needs of emerging and traditional groups
Since the 2000s, Family Support has also begun to provide services to new groups, including multicultural families and adolescents facing challenges. This trend reflects society's increasing attention to the needs of different ethnic groups.
ConclusionBased on the above discussion, the success of family support services depends on the effective combination of professional and natural support. Whether it is emotional support for individuals or policy promotion, these will help strengthen the function of families. So, can we further improve the accessibility and effectiveness of services in such a support system?
