Family–Professional Partnerships and Parenting Competence, Confidence, and Enjoyment

Abstract

A growing body of research demonstrates that the nature of the relationship between parents and professionals and parents' judgements of their feelings of empowerment are closely linked. This article focuses on one component of this relationship—partnerships—and reports on the association between parent–professional partnership and both parent empowerment and parenting capabilities in a sample of parents with a child with a disability or developmental delay. The results of this study extend our knowledge about the nature of help‐giving that is likely to produce desirable outcomes for families.

Keywords:

• Empowerment
• Family‐centred
• Family–professional partnerships
• Help‐giving
• Parenting

Acknowledgements

The conduct of this study was supported, in part, by the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute and the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, both located in Morganton, North Carolina, USA. Appreciation is extended to the study participants for their involvement in the study.