Week 1: Communication and Collaboration in the Early Childhood Field

For your blog this week, think of someone (e.g., family member, celebrity, politician, friend, or professor) who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context. What behaviors does this person exhibit that make him or her effective? Would you want to model some of your own communication behaviors after this person? Why or why not?

Part of my job collaborating with child protective services and working with children and families involves being properly trained in interviewing clients in order to obtain information about their current situation. This was a task that was very challenging for me at the beginning of my career. This training includes completing a ride-along with one of the child protection investigators. The investigator that I was with was named Kate. The cases we work come from allegations regarding children's safety and well being, and usually include maltreatment in some way. I was very impressed with Kate's ability to not only obtain information from children and their caregivers, but also make them feel comfortable enough to share information with her openly and without much perceived effort on her part. Despite the allegations on the case we went out on being especially egregious, Kate maintained composure and professionalism. She was able to adapt her communication style to her audience. For example, when interviewing children, she was great at using kid-friendly language, showing empathy and building rapport. However for the child's parents, who were very resistant and manipulative, Kate was able to utilize her authority in her communication, yet maintain professionalism to do the job.
After my ride along with Kate, I recognized that while she was very effective in her communication, both verbally and non-verbally, she reassured me that I will be able to develop my own style of interviewing and communicating with our clients. She admitted that there were times when she was talking to the parents, listening to their numerous lies, and for a certain amount of time she played along, but eventually, at the end of the day, our job is to uncover those lies and discuss truth to keep kids safe. She admitted that she does become frustrated and even angry, but those emotions will not get the job done or resolve problems. I do model some of what I observed in my ride along with Kate in the services that I provide with clients, but she was right, since my ride along, I have developed my own techniques of communicating with clients. I try to remember to put myself in their shoes, be respectful of varying communication styles.