July 5 Family Forum Posted by Posted by Linda Skates on 11 July 2017 Posted on: 11 July 2017

MidCentral Transformation – Family Forum

Record of discussions and decisions, forums held on July 5, 2017

Number of participants: 29 family members

As agreed at the previous forum, both community forums followed a process where disabled people and families were together for a brief presentation from members of the Regional Leadership Group facilitators and members from the co-design group.  The large group then separated into disabled persons and family groups.  Topics at the first session included:

-       progress regarding the high-level co-design paper to Cabinet

-       EGL Waikato Leadership Group paper on key elements of a Regional Leadership Group

-       general expectations of a Regional Leadership Group (RLG) and

-       personal views of the Enabling Good Lives’ approach   

After the initial session, the groups divided to discuss an approach to forming the Regional Leadership Group and how they wanted people to be selected. 

A decision was made by the disabled people present to hold separate forums in the future with the intention of occasional events where disabled people and families may have a combined gathering.

How Enabling Good Lives’ principles will guide us in setting up RLG

Contributions from participants - main themes included:

• The principles can be the lens through which we look at all issues
• Important we can demonstrate the principles in our own lives
• Principles can be a checklist for our thinking and decision making
• Great that families can speak out and be involved
• Enables creative thinking

 Our thoughts re EGL Waikato paper on a Regional  Leadership Group

Key points from participants:

• Important we have diversity (gender, culture, experiences)
• Agree with EGL Waikato thoughts *
• Representatives need to be connected to family networks – important to understand a range of experiences and opinions
• No barriers to different views
• Representatives must have a positive attitude
• Important that families who need support to attend can access it

How we want to select people for the Regional Leadership Group

Key points from participants:

• Need to be clear about what is required – main tasks, time and energy commitment
• Representatives accountable to the wider group of families
• It was considered important to state that some disabled people rely on others, often families, to understand their experiences/needs and represent their interests
• Representatives need to be connected and open to local individuals/networks – we have different experiences and ideas – everyone needs to be able to contribute
• Want an organic process – people can move in and out of the role as circumstances (or issues) change
• A bigger core group – the representatives on the Leadership Group are a sub-group of the core group
• Need to get ideas/views from a wide group of families – continue open community forums
• Want a Job Description before people “put their hand up” (need to be very clear on expectations at the beginning)
• We can choose our representatives
• Need clarity on the number of people (suggestion was made there is a “core group” of about six people with three family representatives on the Leadership Group) 

Note: Some concern was expressed that service providers may select people for the Leadership Group who families did not experience as ‘practising the principles’. This may make open discussion challenging.  It was reinforced that each forum needed to select the people they wanted. 

Agreed next steps

1. A “Job Description” for this role to be posted on the EGL website by 14^th July 2017
2. Expressions of interest sought
3. People who are interested are prepared to present to the next family forum on the 1^st August
4. Looking for a core group of up to 6 family members – with 3 family members on the Regional Leadership Group - selected at the 1^st August forum 

Next Family Forum:            

6pm – 8pm on the 1^st August

At the EASIE Living Centre, 585 Main Street, Palmerston North

Main task: Selection of “core group” (Regional Leadership Group   members)

*Thoughts from Enabling Good Lives Waikato Regional Leadership Group regarding setting up a Regional Leadership Group

Learning from EGL Waikato suggest the following is important:

Invest time, early in the process, for relationship building.  It is good if people can share food (informal) and get to know each other. Building trust is important and can take time

 Members of the Regional Leadership Group need to:

• Know and support the vision and principles of EGL
• Have good local connections and credibility
• Be prepared to organise and facilitate regular community forums (staying connected, informed and safe)

1. Have safe (closed) meetings. Brave conversations need to occur during meetings.
2. Hold meetings in a neutral space
3. Be OK with different views being expressed
4. Meetings held in a neutral space
5. External facilitation – from someone who understands EGL, has group facilitation skills and makes sure everyone has their voice heard
6. There is value in “pre-meetings” (especially at the beginning).  This is a good place to get context and test thinking.
7. There needs to be clear and accurate communication
8. Provide clarity around resourcing/reimbursements
9. Always link everything back to the EGL principles
10. Good to have officials at the table.