PARENT SUPPORT & ADVOCACY

Student and Mother - Student - Lauren Bajwa Boutique Educational Services

Parents are equal partners in the team that helps develop the educational program for your child.  Being able to communicate and work effectively with school professionals can be overwhelming, especially if a child is experiencing learning difficulties. Our goal at BES is to meet the child and family right where they are, and to assist in working collaboratively with the team of professionals involved in the child's process.

BES advocacy and parent support is founded in a respectful and collaborative approach which strives to empower parents and families as they share their child’s story. The BES team facilitates a process which supports creative problem solving, and is inclusive of all stakeholders and professionals serving the child. This approach can also result in BES supporting parents and families in the decision-making process to change their child’s educational setting, in order  to better address their unique needs.

There are a variety of ways that we provide parent support:

  • Review 504 plans or IEP's, and providing consultation support and guidance;

  • Assist in identifying accommodations, modifications and goals that would benefit your child based on their unique learning needs;

  • Assist in preparing for a meeting with school staff, a 504-committee meeting, or an Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee meeting;

  • Participate in a phone conference with school staff to assist in problem-solving a situation or discussing effective strategies to improve instruction and student performance;

  • Attend a meeting with school staff (504-committee meetings, pre-ARD and ARD committee meetings) to provide support and advocacy;

  • Assist in making decisions about the appropriate educational setting for a child;

  • Accompany parents on visits to specific schools, campuses and classrooms in consideration of a placement for their child;

  • Conduct classroom observations of a child, and collaborate with parents and school staff, related to effective instructional strategies and social emotional supports.

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE COACHING

At BES, we offer Positive Discipline Parent coaching that is geared towards children with special needs. This program was developed by Dr. Jane Nelson, and is based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreukurs.

We are trained in this program because its methods are tailored to children with special needs who might struggle with finding a supportive and understanding community. “Recent research tells us that children are hardwired from birth to connect with others, and that children who feel a sense of connection to their community, family, and school are less likely” to struggle in these various environments.

Positive Discipline Parent Coaching

Our sessions are tailored to support families with children who have unique needs, such as attention challenges, Executive Functioning deficits, and other mental health needs. While all families can benefit from Positive Discipline, this workshop is especially helpful for those who have “tried everything” and need more.  Here is what parents can expect: 

  • 10 individualized and consecutive 1-hour sessions with Mia Roldan, LCSW, LCDC, Clinical Therapist, Certified Positive Discipline Parent Coach. Sessions can be either virtual or in person based on the family’s preference. 

  • To truly individualize, Mia will review any evaluations and school-based documents pertaining to the specific special needs of the child prior to starting the sessions.  To provide continuity of care, she will collaborate with other helping professionals who know the family and/or child well.  

  • Ongoing access to Mia between sessions to help problem-solve and collaborate, as issues unfold in the home.  She will be available to parents by text and/or email Monday - Friday, 8am-8pm to offer coaching when specific questions come up. (Responses will be answered within the same day.) This allows for meaningful growth not only during sessions, but between meetings as well.  

  • Families will be provided Positive Discipline materials, (ex. visuals, charts, printed schedules, etc.) to utilize at home, based on the needs of the child and family.  

  • At the conclusion of the 10 sessions, Mia will provide recommendations for continued support and next steps after completion of the parent coaching program (including support for parents and/or children).

INTERVENTIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

At BES, we empower parents with tools to support their child's emotional and behavioral well-being. Our new offerings, DBT-C and FBT, focus on the parent-child relationship, placing families at the heart of therapeutic interventions and building long-term resilience.

What is DBT for Children (DBT-C) ?

DBT-C is designed for pre-adolescent children (ages 5-12) who experience high emotional sensitivity and behavioral dyscontrol, including frequent temper outbursts, suicidal ideation, and self-injury. 

DBT-C:

  • Helps parents guide pre-adolescents with emotional sensitivity and behavioral dysregulation by addressing both environmental and self-related factors.

  • Includes an extensive parenting component to 1) educate parents on how to effectively address the child’s problematic responses, and 2) increase their ability to implement learned strategies consistently.

What is Family-Based Therapy (FBT) ?

Family-Based Therapy (FBT) is recognized as the “gold standard” for treating eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa in children and teens. Unlike traditional family therapy, FBT empowers parents to be an integral part of their child’s recovery, guiding their child through renourishment and helping the entire family heal together.

FBT:

  • Empowers parents to take an active role in their child's recovery from eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa) with a proven, family-centered approach.

  • Involves the entire family in treatment, with parents taking a leading role in their child's recovery process.

  • Generally involves roughly 20 weekly sessions (depending on the youth’s progress), divided into three phases with the therapist working primarily with the parents or caregivers.

  • Our therapist works alongside you to support the family in developing stronger relationships and long-term resilience.

  • As the child begins to regain control of their life, FBT supports a healthier sense of self and the ability to return to normal activities and goals.

For new clients and inquiries, please email lauren@laurenbajwa.com for the quickest response.