We all need a little help sometimes, whether you’re a host family or a care professional. It’s always useful to get advice from other program participants on how to navigate your year with Apex PROcare.
Below is a compilation of advice from our blogs where you’ll hear from Area Directors, host moms, and care professionals. We love combining our knowledge and learning from one another!
Area Director Emily in Northern California
Set-up a routine time each week for both parents and the care professional to have a family meeting. It doesn’t have to be long – 20 minutes is sufficient. It sets an expectation of professionalism and provides a structured time for any issues to be brought up.
Care Professional Nina in Northern California
For host families, speak in the beginning about rules so that we know what to expect. As care professionals, we work long hours, so free time away from our host family is also important for us to get new energy for the next day. Also, if there are problems just speak about it right away, as it is often just a misunderstanding.
Area Director Debbie in New Jersey
I recommend you realize your new care professional will most likely enjoy a family environment – that it is not just a job – and try to help them integrate into the family. That said, as professionals, they also will want their space as adults.
Area Director Eva in Southern California
In my personal experience and from what I see in my care professionals, warmly welcoming them into your family is very important. If a care professional feels like they are considered a part of the family, they have a better experience, as do you and your children.
Be sensitive to the fact that these men and women are very bright and special in the sense that they have chosen to go far away from their families and friends to live with your family. It is not easy to do that – they really took a big leap – so be patient if they need an adjustment period.
Ask them a lot of questions about their schools, families and friends and life. A conversation is what creates relationships and these questions will spark the conversations!
Care Professional Garoa in Washington State
When I first spoke to my host family, I realized that it is more important to fit perfectly with the host family than to be fixated on living in a certain city.
Communication is the key to happiness.
My host family always includes me in their plans. At the same time, however, they also give me the necessary freedom and privacy that I need. I have a separate area in the house, which belongs only to me.
Every single care professional has a completely different experience in this program. Whether you have fun or not is not only up to the host family or the city in which you live. It is mainly due to one’s own attitude to the whole!
Be positive, courageous and execute your plans. As appropriate, get out, rather than stay at your home and don’t forget to communicate with your host family. Then you will have a wonderful experience and have unique stories to tell.
Care Professional Jenny in North Carolina
The main thing with working with kids is that you have to respect them and they will respect you. You have to be honest with them and they will be honest with you. They look up to you – you are the adult. You have to act like you should act. Empathy is really important. You have to be their friend all the time but sometimes you also have to be like a parent.