Family-centred Care

Family-centred care (FCC) is an approach to children’s health care that respects the central role of the family in a child’s life. Family members are a critical part of our health care team.

Health care professionals are the experts on health and disease. Families are the experts on their child and can offer essential information to enhance their child’s health care. The guiding principles of family-centred care are:

Respect

Parents and other family members deserve the same respect as other members of the team. Families’ choices are respected along with their values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds.

Information Sharing

As important members of the team, families are entitled to timely, complete and unbiased information offered in a supportive way. This allows them to make informed decisions about their child’s care.

Collaboration

Patients and families are active participants in the decisions made for their child. A family knows their child and the family’s strengths and circumstances. Professionals offer medical and other technical expertise. Together the best treatment plans can be created for the patient.

Empowerment

Family-centred care programs and services build families’ confidence and ability to care for themselves and their child.

• Child and Family Resource Centre
  
  
• Family Advisory Council
  
  
• Children and Youth Advisory Council
  
  
• Family Handbook for New Patients