Conceptual Framework → Principles

Principles

To carry out their mission, AOK Networks must (1) strengthen their capacity as a Network, (2) enhance service delivery, and (3) improve the system of services and supports that meets the needs of, and improves outcomes for, expecting parents as well as children birth to 5 and their families. AOK Networks work with 3 sets of principles to guide practice and behavior in each of these areas.

Community Engagement

The following principles help AOK Network partners increase their capacity to work well together.

People support what they create.
People act most responsibly when they care.
Conversation is the way humans have always thought together. In conversation we discover shared meanings.
To change the conversation change who is in the conversation.
Expect leadership to come from anywhere.
Focusing on what’s working gives us energy and creativity. Ask what’s possible, not what’s wrong.
The wisdom resides within us.
Everything’s a failure in the middle. Change occurs in cycles.
Learning is the only way we become smarter about what we do.
Meaningful work is a powerful human motivator.
Humans can handle anything as long as we’re together.
Generosity, forgiveness, and love, these are the most important elements in a community.

*From The Berkana Institute & Neighborhood Centers, Inc.

Family Support

The following principles help service providers respect and honor parents/caregivers’ inherent strengths, wisdom and capacity to care for their families. These principles help communities improve the overall quality of service delivery.

Staff and families work together in relationships based upon equality and respect.
Staff enhance families’ capacity to support the growth and development of all family members – adults, youth, and children.
Families are resources to their own members, to other families, to programs, and to communities.
Programs affirm and strengthen families’ cultural, racial, and linguistic identities and enhance their ability to function in a multicultural society.
Programs are embedded in their communities and contribute to the community-building process.
Programs advocate with families for services and systems that are fair, responsive, and accountable to the families served.
Practitioners work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources to support family development.
Programs are flexible and continually responsive to emerging family and community issues.

System building

These system building principles guide AOK Network partners in building a comprehensive, system of services and supports that increases families’ satisfaction with the system while improving service access, quality, equity, and capacity.

Proactive: The system promotes the growth and well being of all young children.
Holistic: The system is comprehensive and addresses the full range of a young child’s developmental needs.
Inclusive: The system integrates all community services for pregnant women, young children, and their parents/caregivers.
Strength-based: The system builds upon the strengths of families.
Culturally sensitive: The system is respectful and sensitive to the diverse needs of families.
User-friendly: The system is voluntary as well as easy to access and use.
Family involved: Families are involved in the development of the system.
Coordinated: Services are aligned and connected so that families can easily access services across typical service domains.
Outcomes-based: The system improves outcomes.
Cooperative: Development of the system is a cooperative, community effort.