Maximize your impact by involving parents in the intervention process 

To make the biggest difference for young children with language delays, it’s vital to include parents as key players in the intervention process. But how do you go about engaging and coaching them effectively? 

The SPARK Communication workshop offers a clear and practical framework for transforming early language intervention into a natural, enjoyable and ongoing process.  You’ll learn how to help parents better understand their child’s communication and coach them to use evidence-based responsive interactions strategies during everyday interactions with their child.  

This highly interactive online workshop offers: 

• A set of responsive interaction strategies drawn from Hanen’s evidence-based It Takes Two to Talk® Program – You’ll use these strategies in your daily work and share them with parents so they can facilitate their child’s communication development during everyday activities and routines.
• A structured one-to-one parent coaching framework that’s based on principles of adult learning – This consists of a clear, 4-step coaching model that can be used during individual consultations and therapy sessions. This framework considers the needs of adult learners and effectively supports parents’ application and generalization of strategies.
• Action Plan and resources – You’ll gain a clear action plan for applying the framework and strategies with children and their families, as well as videos and handouts to use in your 1-1 sessions. 

Who is the workshop for? 

The SPARK Communication workshop is designed for a variety of professionals who play important roles supporting young children with language delays and their families. This includes SLP assistants, communications disorders assistants, early childhood special educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, special education teachers, and many more.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Describe multiple communication assessment measures: four stages of child communication, four styles of child interaction, and seven parent allowedroles. 
• Define over ten evidence-based responsive early communication intervention strategies.
• Integrate the communication assessment measures examined with the intervention strategies defined, in order to better select appropriate intervention strategies.  
• Apply a four-step coaching model for guiding parents in their use of communication intervention strategies.  
• Discuss procedures for facilitating collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams in the provision of family-centered services.

License

This workshop licenses you to:

1. 1. Use the 4-Step SPARK Communication Coaching Model 

   You can apply this coaching framework in your daily work to foster a positive partnership with parents, meet their individual needs as adult learners, and maximize their successful application of responsive-interaction strategies with their child.

2. 2. Use SPARK Communication Handouts and Videos  

   You can use these resources in your 1-1 sessions with parents to support their learning. 

You’ll gain access to the following digital resources to support your work.

SPARK Communication Handouts

These include Actions Plans, Strategy Sheets, and detailed guidance around communicating with and supporting parents.

SPARK Communication Videos

These real-life video examples help you demonstrate Hanen strategies to parents. 

Part 1: Self Study

Before the training, you'll complete a self-directed module to prepare you for full participation in the workshop. You’ll learn about the Hanen approach to involving parents, as well as the importance of interaction in a child’s communication learning and the stages of communication.  You will also observe a child on your caseload interacting with their parent during a play activity and a daily routine, and record your observations on the form provided. 

Midway through the workshop, you’ll complete a second self-directed module which introduces you to the research behind what works best in coaching parents.  

Part 2: Live, online interactive training

In a small online group, you’ll participate in a series of highly interactive and personalized learning sessions. Each session includes discussion and small group practice activities, as well as the opportunity to reflect and individualize the information for the children on your caseload. 

View the workshop agenda

Note on attendance:

Hanen workshops require participants to attend all components of the workshop, as indicated on the workshop registration page. Full attendance is required in order to receive your license to use the SPARK Communication framework in your 1-1 parent coaching sessions, as well as your proof of attendance.