The standard goal at FamilyLight^sm with all clients is to help that client family develop a strategic plan to address the problem that brought them to us.  Keep in mind that when we say "strategic plan" it does not mean that you should expect an elaborate formal document.. It does mean that we try to help every family develop a strategy to resolve (in most cases) the problem that brought them to us. Where resolution is not realistic, it is our purpose to help the family determine what is possible, and then to maximize their impact on that problem within their means.

Keep in mind that most (not all) educational consultants think of a "school search" as their paradigm and understand that as their job.  That is very different in principle from developing a strategy to solve a problem.  It may be very different in practice, depending upon the specific situation. At FamilyLight^sm we include school search in our range of services (when applicable) and do that as well or better than the others. But that is only a part of what we do.

The paragraphs that follow, including the links associated, describe our service in detail. We offer this as a package for a single fee. We are often approached about providing a part of the service for part of the usual fee. We decline those requests.  We have attempted to work with families without applying the entire package, and have never been satisfied with the results.

When FamilyLight^sm begins with a new client, we begin with a Record Review. We ask you to provide us with copies of all educational and clinical records.  We also ask you to prepare a short biography for us. For more detail, please follow the link in this paragraph.

After we have an opportunity to review the records, we schedule a Home Visit.  Tom Croke will spend the better part of the day with the young person and his parents, usually in their home.  If the young person is already in a residential facility -- say boarding school, wilderness program or hospital -- the visit can take place at that location.  For more detail, please follow the link in this paragraph.

Following the Home Visit, we are prepared to offer coaching at home or refer to residential school or treatment or both, as might be needed.  Our service package involves six months of availability to our client families. When families hear this, it often leads to a concern that we might plan to take six months before offering specific referrals. Not to worry. Normally referral takes place very soon following a home visit if referral occurs at all.   However, we are still available to assist after that.  For more detail, click here.

If your family is in need of parent coaching, we will help you work out a family contract if appropriate and guide you through difficult situations. For more detail, click here.

 In all cases, we remain available for follow-up throughout the contract period. If your son or daughter is in residential placement, usually that school or program will remain in contact with us for the duration of that placement, so our information is at the ready if we need to become involved again. 

We always welcome hearing from you about your son or daughter. Contracts expire. Our concern for your son or daughter does not.

Still under construction

 Text is accurate and largely complete, but may have further adjustments and corrections. Some future links have not yet been connected