Family-centered care for children with cerebral palsy: conceptual and practical considerations to advance care and practice

J Child Neurol. 2014 Aug;29(8):1046-54. doi: 10.1177/0883073814533009. Epub 2014 May 7.

Abstract

This article focuses on conceptual and practical considerations in family-centered care for children with cerebral palsy and their families. In the last 5 years, there have been important advances in our understanding of the components of family-centered care, and initial attempts to understand the client change processes at play. Recent research elaborates on family-centered care by delving into aspects of family-provider partnership, and applying family-centered principles to organizational service delivery to bring about organizational cultures of family-centered care. Recent research has also begun to consider mediators of client change, and new practice models have been proposed that embrace family-centered principles and illustrate the "art" of practice. Future research directions are discussed, including explorations of causal relationships between family-centered care principles, elements of caregiving practice, client change processes, and child and family outcomes. The meaning of the recent literature for pediatric neurology practice is considered.

Keywords: childhood; disability; family-centered care; pediatric neurology; service delivery.

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Palsy / nursing*
  • Cerebral Palsy / rehabilitation
  • Child
  • Delivery of Health Care*
  • Disabled Children / rehabilitation*
  • Family*
  • Humans