Activity 3-1:
Identifying Family Goals



Purpose: To practice strategies for helping families define their goals during the family partnership agreement process.

Preparation: For this activity you will need:

  1. Introduce the activity. Explain that identifying family goals is an ongoing process. Tell participants that this activity explores goal-setting strategies.

  2. Present two goal-setting strategies. Distribute handout 1 and review with participants the strategies of visioning and creating a family picture as explained in part 1 and part 2. Use the module's key concepts and background information sections to expand on the discussion.

  3. (a) Practice visioning Guide participants through visioning by saying:

    "We are going to practice the strategy of visioning. This involves reading several passages and a series of questions to help you think about your family's future. In order for this to be effective, relax, leave the present behind, focus on the future, and experience the luxury of having time to think only about your hopes and dreams."


    Trainer Preparation Note: Encourage participants to create a mental picture during the visioning exercise. Visioning is a thoughtful process that may require considerable time. When reading the script, do not rush the participants. Allow some time for participants to relax. It is important to read slowly and pause between each phrase. 

    (b) Ask the participants to get into a comfortable position and to close their eyes. Say:

    "Relax. Take a deep breath. The wind is blowing slightly. You are calm. You are safe and comfortable. There are no daily worries. There is silence. There are no voices. There are no phones. There are no doorbells."

    "Take another deep breath. I want you to look two years into the future. You can see your family. Family members are a little older, a little wiser, and have accomplished many things. Your family has experienced good times and overcome difficulties. It is the perfect time. Everyone in your family is exactly where they want to be, doing all the things they want to do. All of your family dreams have come true."

    "Draw a picture in your mind. Where are you? Where are your family members? What is everyone doing? What are they wearing? What are they saying? How do you and your family feel? How is your family different? How is your family the same? You have just created your family picture. Now, open your eyes."

  4. Create the family picture. Explain to participants that they will now put the mental image created during the visioning process on paper. Encourage participants to complete the family picture (part 2 of handout 1) by drawing or writing phrases that describe the family picture.


    Trainer Preparation Note: Reinforce that visioning and creating a family picture are not the only way to initiate family goal setting. State that families can draw, write, or describe their plans for the future; it is important to use strategies appropriate to individual families.  

  5. (a) Describe the goals. Write the definition of a goal on newsprint and post: A GOAL IDENTIFIES WHAT THE FAMILY HOPES TO ATTAIN. Discuss the meaning of the term "goal" by asking the following questions:

    • What do you think this definition means?

    • What makes a goal attainable?

      (b) Tell participants that their family pictures depict goals which now must be expressed in words. Give the following example to participants:

      "Win your family picture you drew a new home, your goal statement may be to move to a new neighborhood, to save enough money to buy a new home, or to rent a larger house."

      (c) Have participants write their goals in handout 1, part 3.

    • (a) Develop goal statements. Review the bullets in part 4 of handout 1 and discuss with participants that a clearly articulated and defined goal incorporates four characteristics (realistic, specific, time-limited, and results-oriented). Using the module's background information, discuss each characteristic.

      (b) On handout 1, part 4, instruct the participants to rewrite the goals previously identified in part 3. Remind participants to incorporate the four characteristics of a goal statement.

      (c) Instruct participants to pick a partner. Have partners explain their family pictures and their goal statements to each other. Instruct the partners to assess whether the goal statements contain the four characteristics.

    • Debrief the activity. Ask participants to discuss their goal-setting experience by asking:

      • What did you learn about yourself or your family from this activity?

      • How are the strategies you practiced different from those you  typically use with families?

      • What do you see as the advantages of these strategies?

      • What opportunities do you have to use this process in your work with families?

    • Close the activity. Close the activity by reminding staff that when setting goals, the family is the senior partner; this ensures that the family owns the goals and makes the commitment necessary to achieve them. Recap the strategies for identifying family goals (visioning and creating the family picture) and the characteristics of well-defined goals. Encourage staff to practice these strategies with the families they work with.



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