Needs Aren’t Services is one of the most powerful practice guidelines known as the 18 Phrases That Pay. It brings to life other phrases like LISTEN, LISTEN AND THEN LISTEN! When families are truly listened to, they are more likely to join with the members of their child and family teams because they don’t feel that others are there trying to “fix” them. When the needs of the youth and family are the goals of care, the wraparound value “Needs Driven” comes to life.
Needs Aren’t Services challenge us to embrace the essential family needs before we offer the categorical array of services. And this in turn also opens the door to an appreciation of family strengths. Listening to youth and families articulate their needs can’t help but grow the team member’s awareness of the wealth of hidden and untapped strengths. Listening to the family’s needs is the key to helping teams become active participants in families developing their own solutions. Needs based services emerge from these solutions. Needs based services differ from traditional services in that they focus on the need first, not fitting the family’s needs into the traditional menu of services. The most evidence based practice comes when the family says, “Yes, my needs were met.”
And perhaps, within the layers of needs for learning, safety, a place called home, meaningful work, health care, benefits and necessary skill sets, there is the need for relationship and community. I frequently hear families saying, “If I had your supports I wouldn’t be here!” The needs for community and natural supports are not just powerful, they are the ultimate classroom in which successful outcomes grow and flourish. These needs aren’t services, they are the window to yet another phrase that pays: No Families no solutions – Know Families Know Solutions.
- Craig Andler, Director, Families Reaching for Rainbows
