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Facilitating Attuned Interactions

Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN)

Learn our approach to building better relationships with parents. Receive training and consulting from our experts.

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You Can Build Better Relationships with Parents

Partner with Erikson to learn the Facilitating Attuned Interactions approach, which we refer to as FAN. FAN’s ultimate goal is strengthening the provider-parent relationship, resulting in parents who are attuned to their children and ready to try new ways of relating to them.

Although created for Erikson’s Fussy Baby Network, FAN can be applied beyond issues of infancy and can be thought of as both a conceptual framework and a practical tool for building relationships in a wide range of settings.

Connect with our Program Director Tori Graham

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The Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Tools You Need

We are a training program that believes people need to feel connected and understood in order to be open to change. Our FAN tool ensures practitioners read cues from parents and themselves and thus, provide empathetic and appropriate responses.

What to Expect from Your FAN Training

Who is the FAN approach for?

  • Programs and systems that seek to promote parent engagement and build staff reflective capacity
    • Home visitation programs
    • Center-based infant and early childhood programs
    • Early intervention Part C programs
    • Infant and early childhood mental health services including consultation
    • Pediatric residency training, primary care pediatrics, and NICU staff
    • Child welfare agencies
  • Youth mentoring programs (in collaboration with Loyola University)

Types of FAN Training Offered

Training For Programs

  • Introductory Training (1 Day)
  • FAN CORE Training
    • Level I training for supervisors and staff (typically 2 days)
    • Booster trainings and/or mentoring during 6-9 months of Level II Reflective Practice
    • Final Day of Training for Integration and Sustainability Planning

Train-The-Trainer

Erikson works with state systems, larger programs, and academic institutions to prepare their professional development staff members to become FAN trainers.

FAN training is aligned with the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health’s Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-based Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health®.

Dr. Michelle Barnes
Dr. Michelle Barnes
University of Illinois at Chicago
“ FAN has given me new language to discuss communication styles with young pediatricians. Trainees tell me that FAN has helped them be more empathic with parents and children. As a result, they’ve experienced more satisfaction in their work with families. ”
Linda Gilkerson
Linda Gilkerson, PhD
Founder, Facilitating Attuned Interactions
“ Home visitors, pediatric residents, and any professionals working with young children can do amazing things in very challenging situations. The FAN helps them to stay steady, centered, and empathic. ”

Evidence the FAN Method Works

Both Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and Loyola University have evaluated the FAN approach.

With the FAN approach to home visiting practitioners focused more on parenting, were more reflective and collaborative, and felt less burnout. Supervisors were more self-aware and asked more questions. They were better able to help home visitors process their feelings, and provided supervision which was more reflective.

Erikson conducted its own research with the University of Illinois at Chicago. It found that pediatric residents using the FAN approach to family engagement reported being more empathic and mindful. They were also more satisfied with their communication with families.

FAN Family

National Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Network

We have an international network that brings together FAN users in 19 states and three countries. This group meets twice a year for advanced training and collaboration.

For more information on how to join the national network or if you’d like your organization to be trained on the FAN approach, email Tori Graham.