Why Family-Centered Services?

Cornerstone Speech Therapy prides itself on an approach that is different from many other providers.  Why have we chosen this approach?  
Not only does it just make sense to provide services that include and inform families, but our approach is also backed by research.  

We believe, and research shows, that the family unit is the most important and influential part of a child’s development.  Children learn the most from the people who are closest to them.  The family has cared for their child since the very beginning and, through this time together, has become a true expert on their child.  The family knows and understands what makes their child happy, sad, uncomfortable, excited, scared, and sometimes even grumpy.  They know their child's strengths and interests and they understand their challenges.  Because of the respect we have for the family's knowledge and experience, Cornerstone partners with families to understand these special qualities and to develop strategies that address the family's priorities for their child.  

Family-centered services also empower the family to incorporate intervention strategies into the child’s daily routines.  Intervention is not something that only happens once a week during a speech therapy session, but should occur multiple times per day through activities in which that child naturally participates.  Families are already doing things that can be powerful learning opportunities.  These activities can be anything from doing laundry to wrestling with daddy and are unique to each family. 

Because of our approach, families will not have a designated time in their day to “work on speech” because it will naturally be embedded in each and every activity they experience with their child.  

A visit with Cornerstone may also look different from a traditional therapy session.  Because of our emphasis on family involvement, the family is asked to participate and learn how to best help their child.  The majority of our visits take place in the home or in our "home-like" office location.  We use a coaching approach as we work with each family.  We ask questions, model strategies and allow the family the opportunity to try some things while we are there.  We want each family to have the confidence and competence to support their child’s development on their own.

At Cornerstone Speech Therapy, the family is at the very heart of what we do.  While we may be experts on speech and language development, we know that the family is the expert on their child.  Cornerstone truly is the "home for family-centered services".