top of page

3 Core Principles

To carry out their mission, AOK Networks (1) strengthen their capacity as a Network, (2) enhance coordination of cross-sector service delivery, and (3) improve the system of services and supports so it works for 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 is 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.

​

Source: Margaret Wheatley and Nancy Margulies

Community Engagement
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.

​

Source: Free to Grow

Family Support
Systems 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.

​

Source: Unknown

Systems Building
bottom of page