The First Step in Seeking Support is Knowing What You Actually Need

From time to time throughout my career I would have families either call or come in and ask about the services of the agency I am working at and how do they get into service.  Well depending on where you live, what services you are looking for and how picky you are, you may be able to acquire services right away or you may have to wait years and go through a lot of meetings and red tape to get there.

I work in Ontario in a developmental service agency and there is a process to acquiring services.  Many folks who do call or come in don't know that until they are advised on the steps to take.  Some are fine with the process while others are at the end of their rope and frustrated that there is a process. The important thing is getting the information to the families in need and providing them with clear guidelines as to how to start the process of accessing the services they need.

So what if you are that family member?  Where do you even find out about services that you may need for your loved one?  Well there are a few things I can share as advice that I have provided over the years in both my full time and coaching positions so thought this would be a great platform to share that.  Giving you the tools to support your loved one.

My suggestions will be geared to anyone looking for supports for their child with special needs or those with loved ones needing mental health support or even those with aging parents who need support beyond what you can give at home.

First and foremost make sure to have a chat with the family doctor or other specialists.  You might be surprised at what they know and what information they actually have if you are persistent.  But also be very clear on what you are looking for.  If you are not clear on the help you need then they may not be able to provide you with helpful information.

My tip of the day is also a tool I created for my coaching practice.  It is used for those who are finding it challenging on knowing what services they actually need and what to ask when they are reaching out for supports. It is a universal tool and, therefore, can be used by anyone anywhere. I share this with my clients and anyone seeking additional supports with this can certainly reach out to me.  The first part of my tool is a page where you list all the current needs of the person needing the supports.  But I don't just stop at brainstorming the current needs, but why each of the items listed are important and needed.  If the person with the needs is able to complete this task then I would have them do their own and their family member also complete one.  Then we rate them in order of importance.  Often there are major differences to what is important when the caregiver's list is compared to the person with the support needs list.  Of course, if the person who needs services is too young, not cognitively able, or not mentally able to complete the list, then it would be what the family perceives the needs to be.  From there we create their question to ask when calling a potential service provider.

Why is this so important?  A service provider needs to know exactly what services and needs you require.   Being in the service provider end of things for many years I can certainly testify to this.  The more clear you are in your needs, the easier it is to determine what supports the provider can offer and whether they are in fact the provider or service you should be connecting with.

So when you or someone you know is considering seeking services for their loved one, keep this tip in mind.  Again, if anyone wishes to reach out for coaching in this and more in-depth support, I am just an email away and happy to help anyone navigate this process.

Barb

barb@twinlifecoaching.ca


www.twinlifecoaching.ca