Planning With, Not For: Coaching Families Toward Autonomy in Service Coordination
In this SCARF series, we've talked about how our brains are always quietly scanning our interactions for five social needs: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness. So far we've explored Status (feeling valued and respected) and and Certainty (knowing what to expect) [...]
When Presence is the Practice: Status, the SCARF Model, and What We Send Before We Say a Word
In the last post, we talked about the SCARF model as a brain-based way to make sense of those visits and meetings that leave us thinking, “Why did that feel so hard?” David Rock’s SCARF model identifies five core social domains that the human brain monitors constantly, often below conscious awareness, [...]
Feeling Tense from a Confusing Interaction? De-Activate Your Stress Response with the S-C-A-R-F Model
Have you ever left a visit or team meeting replaying an interaction in your mind, maybe thinking something like: “What just happened there?” or “Why did that feel so hard?” Of course you have, because we all have in this field! And, that’s partly because family-centered, capacity-building practices are [...]
When You HAVE TO Get Out the Door in 10 minutes… and the Clothes Come Off
“His bus comes in 10 minutes… and he took off all of his clothes!” That was the Monday morning phone call.My daughter was in tears. My grandson—three years old—had stripped down to his diaper. The preschool bus was on its way. My daughter only had 10 minutes. After processing the urgency in her voice, I […]
Trust. Connect. Thrive: Navigating and Repairing Relationship Ruptures in Early Intervention
In early intervention, relationships are the foundation of effective support. Families invite professionals into their lives during some of their most vulnerable moments—times filled with hope, uncertainty, and a deep desire to help their child thrive. Even in the strongest partnerships, misunderstandings [...]
