Defining Relationship-Based TA
What is TA?
TA is a system of targeted, customized, and collaborative support by professionals with subject matter experience (that’s you!). TA should be designed to strengthen processes, knowledge application, and service implementation. For TA to be successful, it is important to understand adult learning principles and build positive, trusting, and respectful relationships.
When implementing TA, everyone involved:
- Identifies, selects, or designs evidence-based solutions to address problems, needs, or goals,
- Adopts or adapts knowledge to practice.
- Effectively implements solutions customized to meet needs.
- Is consistent with the principles of adult learning.
- Responds positively to each learner’s background, including cultural, linguistic, and ability, experiences, the current context of the roles, and their professional goals.
- Provides resources to ensure access for all.
How can you provide TA?
TA can be provided in a variety of ways, both on-site and off-site. This could include:
- Program Visits
- Telephone calls
- Video-Conferencing
TA also employs a variety of strategies to support communities and families. This could include:
- Sharing written or video resources or demonstrations
- Modeling
- Trainer Connections
- Consultation and Presentations
Understanding both formal and personal definitions of TA will lay a foundation for understanding what relationship-based TA is and how to provide it.
Pull your notes back out and look at the definition of TA that you wrote. Has your definition of TA changed? Does it sound similar? Do you think anything needs to be added? Take a moment and add to or make adjustments to your previous definition.