Best Practices for Family Council Membership, Retainment, and Engagement
by Family Councils Ontario
Written by Tiffany Fearon, FCO Client Services Coordinator
This time of year for FCO often includes processing a wave of requests for Family Council presentations. Specifically, this fall we’re getting lots of requests for sessions on starting a Family Council and increasing membership. One thing we reinforce in these sessions is that it is important to remember that an effective Family Council, at its core, includes a high level of engagement, dedication, and peer support from members. So, as we gear up to start talking about how to engage and retain members, here are a few best practices we want to share with you to help you successfully engage with new families to get your Council up and running!
Include an eye-catching brochure in your home’s welcome package: Under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, the packet of information that must be given to every resident and to the substitute decision-maker of the resident, if any, at the time that the resident is admitted shall include “information about the Family Council, if any, including any information that may be provided by the Family Council for inclusion in the package” (Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, S.O. 2007, c. 8). In fact, many long-term care homes welcome the idea of having their Family Council include information on their group in welcome packages for new residents and their families. This is a great opportunity to showcase information on your group’s mission, goals, and achievements
Create a Family Council email: It’s a great idea to create an email for your Family Council. This way questions about the Council can find its way to the right contact person efficiently!
Host an open house or meet and greet event: What’s more welcoming than a friendly face? As a Family Council member, you can relate to the experiences families have when their loved one first enters a home. Creating opportunities to meet new residents and their families is a great way to offer and practice peer support.
Set up a booth to showcase your FC: If your home is known for hosting events for families of residents to attend you may want to consider setting up a booth. This is a great way to share information and visuals on what your Family Council is working on.
Updates via bulletin board: Organize your bulletin board and keep family members updated with Family Council contacts information, announcements, minutes, and upcoming meeting dates. Adding a pop of colour won’t hurt either!
Create a Membership Subcommittee: Appoint individuals on your Family Council to work specifically on membership initiatives may assist in organizing efforts to get the word out about your Family Council
We hope the above information is helpful for those seeking assistance with better engaging families in the long-term care community. Remember, Family Councils contribute to the fruitfulness and resilience of the home. Make an effort to embrace new ways to grow and maintain your group!