Building Parent Buy-In: Partnering With Parents Through Effective Communication

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Building Parent Buy-In: Partnering With Parents Through Effective Communication

As educational therapists, we are trained and passionate about helping our struggling students grow and thrive. However, we often find ourselves less prepared to support their parents—who may be struggling in their own way. Yet, we know that a strong parent partnership is essential for educational therapy to have its greatest impact. In this webinar, I’ll introduce you to an easy-to-remember acronym, C.A.R.E., designed to help you approach parent meetings with clarity and confidence—whether it’s an initial intake or a year-end follow-up. Drawing from years of experience in conducting countless parent meetings, I’ll share practical strategies to help parents feel heard, empowered, and better equipped to support their child and partner with us in the therapeutic process.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Recognize the importance of parent partnership in the success of educational therapy and how it impacts student progress.
• Identify common challenges parents face when navigating their child's learning difficulties and how these may affect their engagement.
• Apply the C.A.R.E. framework to structure both initial and follow-up parent meetings with clarity and purpose.
• Demonstrate strategies to help parents feel heard, understood, and empowered during meetings.
• Develop a personal plan for improving communication and collaboration with parents to strengthen the therapeutic alliance.

About Your Speaker

Connie Risser, M. Ed., PCET

Connie is the founder and former director of the Joshua Institute, an organization established to support students with learning difficulties. Her journey in education began in 2004 after discovering that both her daughter and son struggled with dyslexia. Motivated by a desire to help her own children succeed—and to serve other families facing similar challenges—she launched a career dedicated to educational intervention and support. Connie holds a master’s degree in Special Education and is a Professionally Certified Educational Therapist (PCET). Now retired from the Joshua Institute, she continues her work part-time with NILD as a staff instructor and program support specialist. She and her husband reside in Idaho and are the proud parents of three grown children, each married to wonderful spouses. Connie’s greatest joy is being “Grandma” to seven grandchildren.