Transforming Together: Implementation Guide
Across education, human services, and health systems, a whole-child approach emphasizes a shared set of principles that influence how care is delivered, as summarized in the table below:
Whole-Child/ICPM Principle
Cross-Sector Application
Young people’s well-being and development is impacted by the context in which they live. Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) Principle: Community-Based
Health professionals, human service staff and educators who follow a whole-child approach understand that individuals do not exist in a vacuum. They learn, grow and develop in families, communities and societies with varied cultural, environmental, economic and systemic factors. In the health field, for example, practitioners and policymakers take into account the social determinants of health (healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment) when considering the supports a person might need to reach their optimal health outcomes. Similarly, educators with a whole-child approach take the time to understand students’ and their families’ context beyond the school walls in order to help them build on assets and overcome challenges. Staff in the education, health and human services fields share a common understanding that within an individual their well-being (or lack of well-being) in one area has ripple effects across their development overall. For example, a young person who is experiencing high levels of emotional distress will likely struggle to focus in school, impacting their cognitive development. This emotional distress may also undermine their physical well-being and even their ability to maintain positive social connections. Within a whole-child approach, people who work with children and youth understand that each individual has a unique set of developmental assets and challenges. There is no “average” student, patient or client, rather each individual is growing and learning on their own trajectory that requires supports and scaffolds at different times and in different ways. [Reference: Todd Rose, The Myth of Average]
Development involves the interaction between social, emotional, cognitive and physical conditions. ICPM Principle: Developmentally Appropriate
Each individual is on their own unique developmental pathway. ICPM Principle : Individualized
14
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator