Who is invited to an intake meeting with a social worker?
At the Child Development Institute, we work with a systemic approach. The institute combines the skills of many professionals in order to obtain a complete picture of the child's development and formulate recommendations for further assistance if necessary. As part of this approach, every family that comes for an assessment at the institute is invited to talk with a social worker. This conversation usually takes place upon first arrival at the institute in order to get to know the family and obtain preliminary information about the child. This meeting takes place with the parents, without the child being present. If the parents are interested, they can come with a family member or another significant person involved in their care.
Why is it important to attend a meeting with the social worker?
We believe that parents and the surrounding family are the most significant figures from whom we can obtain information about the child's condition. This conversation allows us to obtain background and additional information that can be significant during the diagnostics with the child. During the diagnostics, the professionals who meet the child are impressed by his development, each according to his field. The information that you as parents add about him is added to the information that the diagnosticians collect during the meeting itself and assists in the diagnostic process. Also, and no less important, the meeting with the social worker allows us to receive information regarding the rights and benefits provided by various bodies in the country in order to help promote the child's development. Depending on the needs that arise during the diagnostic process (and if they do arise), the social worker will provide information about the services provided in the community and help organize their admission process. In cases where the need arises, the social worker will be able to conduct training for parents, advise them, accompany them in contacting the various bodies and liaise between them and associations and aid bodies - all in order to support, guide and promote the realization of their rights.
