 Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LMHC, CRC, NCC

A comprehensive approach
 The core of the flower is the clinician-family
partnership
 The stem symbolizes advocacy activities and
policy changes
 The leaves symbolize vision, values and
principles

 The petals
Assess family needs

Sustain caring environment

Identify resources and support

Educate

 The roots symbolize grounding in
Responsibility

Resources

Respect

Results

Recognition


 Doyou have previous experience utilizing the
Flower Empower method? What would you
say are its benefits or drawbacks? Please
share your experiences in the discussion
forum. Thank you.

 Recognize family assessment of the situation
as essential
 Respect the important role of family
 Determine the desired degree of family
involvement
 Negotiate the roles of clinician and family
within the partnership
 Listen
 Engage in participatory dialog
 Recognize patterns
 Highlight family strengths

 Therapeutic questions
 Identify the family unit
 Identify individuals strengths

 Within the context of the family
 Identify if assistance is required to
strengthen the family
 Information
Family structure

Environmental characteristics

Family strengths

Family supports

Family perception of events

Degree of involvement desired by family


 Asa clinician, do you include questions about
the family’s spiritual identification as part of
your assessment? Please share your
experiences and thoughts in our discussion
forum. Thank you.

 Sources
Intrafamilial (within)

Extrafamilial (outside)

Interfamilial (between)

 Issues
The family

Concerns and sense of vulnerability

Information needs


It is important for nurses to recognize their own

assumptions and values about families and
cultural beliefs, and adjust their care
accordingly.
families are unique, diverse, and change over time

families in transition can make informed decisions

families have expert knowledge and skills that help

them determine their own needs and respond to
expected and unexpected life events.
partnerships with families are built upon mutual

trust, honesty, and collaboration
partnerships support and strengthen families

families should be supported in their choices

family members and the client may have different

and conflicting needs
nurses can help support family situations


 Target groups
Clinicians

Families

Policymakers

Public

 Information to
assist families in managing
expected or unexpected life events

 Asa clinician, what are several ways you
determine if adequate resources and support
to meet the needs of the family are
available? Please share your responses in the
discussion forum. Thank you.

 Ensures staff is oriented to family-centered
care
 Ensures clinicians can effectively access
resources
 Provides ongoing opportunities for
professional development

 Ensure appropriate staffing levels and
placement
 Implement family-centered practices and
policies
 Create work environment conducive to
promoting family involvement
 Develop employee assistance programs
promoting family health
 Ensure policies promote work-life balance

 Lobbying
Family care giving

Public education about the legitimacy of family

caregivers
Consistency in funding for respite care and

research
Mechanisms within organizations for family


 How are you advocating for family-centered
practice? What are some ways you can
increase your involvement in this area?
Please share your responses in the discussion
forum. Thank you.

 Assessment of organizational readiness
 Involvement of direct and indirect members
 Dedication
 Ongoing opportunities for collaboration
 Opportunities for personal reflection

 Assessment of environmental readiness
 Planning and implementing evaluation
 Identifying and securing required resources
for implementation
 Identifying a well-developed, evidence-
based clinical practice guideline
 Identification, assessment and engagement
of stakeholders

 The Flower Empower model provides a
simple, but comprehensive framework for
the clinician-family partnership.