Resilient Family Conversation Script

Goal: Guide the student to recall and reflect on family moments that demonstrate resilience, communication, and support.

Teacher: Hi there! Today, we’re going to talk about times when your family has worked together or helped each other. There are no right or wrong answers—just your honest stories and thoughts. Ready to get started?

Student: (Encourage nod or verbal yes.)

1. Describe a Family Challenge and Response

Teacher: Think of a time when your family faced a challenge—big or small—and everyone pitched in to handle it. It could be something like planning for a surprise, dealing with a tough day at school, or managing a household change. Tell me what happened.

Teacher (Follow‐up): That’s great. Can you walk me through how your family first noticed the problem and decided to work on it together?

2. Roles and Communication

Teacher: What role did you play in helping your family handle that situation?

Teacher (Probe): How did your family communicate during that time? For example, did you talk at the dinner table, send texts, or check in one-on-one?

3. Identifying Strengths

Teacher: When you look back, what strengths do you see your family using? Strengths might include things like patience, creativity, teamwork, or listening.

Teacher (Follow‐up): Could you share a specific moment or action that really shows that strength?

4. Everyday Routines and Habits

Teacher: Apart from big challenges, families use strengths in everyday life too. Do you have any regular routines—like a weekly check‐in, game night, or short “how was your day?” chat—that help you all stay connected?

Teacher (Prompt): How do these routines make it easier to support each other when something goes wrong?

5. Takeaway Thoughts

Teacher: As we wrap up this part, what are two or three words you’d use to describe your family’s resilience?

Teacher: Those words will help us later when we build your Strengths Inventory. Thank you for sharing your stories—this is really helpful!

Next Step: We’ll move on to the Strengths Inventory to capture these ideas in writing and prepare for creating your personalized Coping Action Plan.

Strengths Inventory

Now that we’ve talked about times when your family has shown resilience, let’s capture those strengths in writing. Use the words and stories from the Resilient Family Conversation to guide your responses.

1. List three to five words that best describe your family’s resilience. For each word, write one sentence explaining what it looks like in your family.

• Strength 1: _________________________
  Explanation:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Strength 2: _________________________
  Explanation:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Strength 3: _________________________
  Explanation:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

(Optional: Strength 4 and 5)

1. Pick one strength from your list above. Describe in detail a specific family moment that best illustrates this strength: what happened, who was involved, and how you all worked together.

1. Choose a second strength. In what ways do you see this strength showing up in everyday routines or small moments (like family meals, check-ins, or chores)?

1. Reflect on the third strength you listed. How does this strength help your family cope when something unexpected occurs (e.g., a sudden problem at school or home)?

1. Of these strengths, which one do you personally rely on most when you face a challenge at school? Explain why it matters to you.

1. Is there a family strength you’d like to develop further or a new strength you wish your family had? Describe one or two steps you and your family could take to build that strength.

1. Looking ahead, how could you use the routines or communication habits you described earlier to practice and reinforce these strengths?

Next Step: We’ll use these insights to create your Coping Action Plan, setting clear goals that build on your family’s unique strengths.

Coping Action Plan

Use your family’s strengths to set and plan one or two clear coping goals. Fill in each section below.

1. Challenge or Stressor
   Describe the specific situation you want to address (e.g., feeling overwhelmed by homework, family conflict, test anxiety).

1. Family Strength(s) to Leverage
   Which strength(s) from your Strengths Inventory will you use to help you cope?

1. SMART Goal Statement
   Write one goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

• Specific:
  
  
  
  
• Measurable:
  
  
  
  
• Achievable:
  
  
  
  
• Relevant:
  
  
  
  
• Time-Bound:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

1. Action Steps
   List 2–4 concrete steps you will take to reach your goal. For each step, include who will help (family member or friend) and when you will do it.

• Step 1: What? _________ Who? _________ When? _________
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Step 2: What? _________ Who? _________ When? _________
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Step 3: What? _________ Who? _________ When? _________
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

1. Family Support Plan
   How will your family help you stay on track? (e.g., check-in chats, study sessions, reminders)

1. Potential Barriers & Solutions
   Identify one or two obstacles you might face and how you will overcome them.

1. Check-In & Review
   When will you check your progress and with whom?

Next Step: After completing this plan, review your work against the Progress Check Criteria and schedule a follow-up to celebrate successes or adjust your plan as needed.

Progress Check Criteria

Use this rubric to self-assess and for the coach to review your Coping Action Plan’s clarity, feasibility, and alignment with family strengths.

Next Steps:

• If you scored any 2s or 1s, revisit that section of your plan with your coach.
• Refine your goal, strengthen your action steps, and clarify your check-in schedule.
• Review again before your follow-up meeting to ensure you’re set up for success!