This presentation will explore examples of successfully implemented approaches to family engagement in a community collaborative environment. Approaches include the Family Café model adapted to different neighborhoods, schools, and missions, and incorporating different styles of parent leadership and involvement. Participants will explore ingredients for success, gathering and using feedback from parents and other stakeholders, and learning from experience. Planning resources for developing an engagement activity in the participant\u27s setting will be shared

Currell, Cindy

Wendell, Teresa

English

University of Dayton

Ready Families, Ready Children Family Engagement Approaches that Matter  Catholic Education Summit University of Dayton July 12, 2013    Family Café Presenters  Teresa Wendell – Site Coordinator, Dayton Public Schools, Kiser PK-8 School Neighborhood School Center located in Old North Dayton neighborhood  Randy Chestnut – Pastor and Member of the Old North Dayton community   Hope4Dayton@gmail.com  April Bennett – Parent, community member, and member of Kiser Family Cafe  Diane Brogan-Adams – Director of TOTS Program, East End Community Services   Kathlene Somerset – TOTS Program parent, East End Community Services  Rachael Varvel – TOTS Program parent, East End Community Services  Sue Koverman - Manager of Resource Development, Catholic School Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati  Cindy Currell – University of Dayton, Better Way Grant Coordinator   Introduction  Successfully implemented approaches to family engagement in a community collaborative environment: ◦ Family Café Dinner at Kiser PK-8 School ◦ Family Café at Mary Queen of Peace/Westwood School Community ◦ Taking Off To Success – East End Community Services and Ruskin PK-8 School ◦ Family Cafes with Head Start families ◦ Developing a local community based Family Engagement Collaborative Our Values-Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework *  Parental Resilience –   Social Connections  Concrete Support in Times of Need  Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development  Social and Emotional Competence of Children  Nurturing and Attachment *  http://www.cssp.org/reform/strengthening-families/the-basics/protective-factors Neighborhood Context - NSC Neighborhood School Centers Model  Bring Assets of the neighborhood to the school  Expand the vision of education as a community process  Dynamic and Collaborative  School Principal, Site Coordinator, Involved partners from community  Consistency, friendship, “not somebody’s project.”  Ingredients  Neighborhood assets  Parent leadership and assets  Feedback from parents and stakeholders  Learning from experience – what works, and what doesn’t work  Developing relationships for partnering  Slow and steady, commitment – it takes time  Collaboration for sharing resources, ongoing process Ready Families, Ready Children  Family engagement = vital ingredient for helping children prepare for kindergarten in all schools in the community  Building on strengths = stronger families in all schools  Protective factors = recognizing strengths and assets of parents and families  Family Café Approaches = rooted in supporting and building family strengths  Better Way Foundation – provide financial support to strengthening families through local initiative The Kiser Family Cafe Ingredients that make it possible:  Principal and School Site Coordinator have Strong working relationships  Care about student academic and social needs   Desire for outreach to welcome and involve families and parents  Developing community awareness of shared opportunities – needs, talents, desire to be involved.  Role of the Faith Based Community in Family Engagement  Outreach to the city  Social justice / Building the Kingdom of God  Care for the community  Resources to share  Motivation to be involved with schools  Connection with family need Kiser Family Cafe TOTS – Taking Off to Success Ingredients that make it possible:  Collaborative Leadership - Parents  Link with urban school and community based organization  Building relationships  Concern for family well being  Desire for outreach to welcome and involve young families and new parents   Family Perspectives on Family Engagement for School Readiness   What parents have to share  Involving young families   Developing relationships between schools and families  Dinner, information, forming social relationships  What is most meaningful to me as a parent  Belonging and working together Sharing Parent Wisdom  What do you want teachers, principals, others who work with families to know about family life?  What messages from parents do teachers, principals, and others who work with family need to know?   What are my biggest strengths?  Why are parents and families important in the school community? End of Year  Family Café Celebration December 2012 University of Dayton Students as Family Café Child Care and Homework Helper Team Westwood Family Café   Partnership with Miami Valley Child Development Head Start, Mary Queen of Peace School, Westwood PK-8 School  New openings, challenges, opportunities  Link with Fatherhood Initiative  Learn from experience Emerging Opportunities  with Family Cafes  Sharing the strengthening families framework and Family Café with diversity of the Dayton Community  Developing the ability of urban schools to build relationships with community  Strengthening families and developing protective factors through Family Café experiences  Opportunities for professional development for collaborating and engaging with families. Family Engagement Models  School Readiness Collaborative Family Café – 3 questions to strengthen bonds   Kiser Family Café –  "Family Cafe" @ Kiser PK-8 School 2nite: LASAGNA! Plus: mini-concert by Kiser band. Free! Serving at 6:00p #HopeCommunity @ApexGoing Family Café Models (con’t)  East End Community Services TOTS (Taking Off To Success) – Hispanic families   Edison TOTS – African American families   Westwood Family Café – partnership of Head Start, public and faith based for peaceful families   Family Café for faith sharing   What we continue to learn . . . Family Café . . .  It’s a process, building strength together  through building relationships.  Resources for Family Cafes and Family Engagement Models 1.  Family Cafe Model*  3 Themes, 3 Discussion Questions ◦ Taking Care of Yourself ◦ Being a Strong Parent ◦ Building Strong Relationships with Your Children  Supporting Parents and Family Members: ◦ Transportation ◦ Child Care provided  ◦ Family Meals  ◦ Inclusive and welcoming to all types of parents and families *  See handout with information on developing a Family Cafe 2.  Contacts for Learning More Kiser PK-8 Neighborhood School Center  Teresa Wendell – TAWendel@dps.k12.oh.us Randy Chestnut  and April Bennett – Hope Community Church  hope4dayton@gmail.com  TOTS Program – East End Community Services Diane Brogan-Adams - dbadams@east-end.org    Kathlene Somerset - ksomerset@east-end.org    Rachael Varvel - rvarvel@east-end.org 2.  Contacts for Learning More (con’t) Westwood School / Mary Queen of Peace School Family Cafe ◦ Sue Koverman ◦ skoverman@catholiccincinnati.org ◦ Mike Newsome  - NEWSOM@odjfs.state.oh.us Ready Families, Ready Children Project ◦  Cindy Currell - ccurrell1@udayton.edu Experienced with Family Cafes  Trentae Taylor-taylor@4cforchildren.org  Chris Brenneman - cbrenn1119@aol.com   3.  Web Resources for Learning More The Family Engagement Collaborative http://www.familyengagementcollaborative.com/index.html ◦ Family Engagement Strengths and Needs Survey ◦ the-ready-families-ready-children-blog FRIENDS National Resource Center http://friendsnrc.org/ The Protective Factors Survey  http://friendsnrc.org/protective-factors-survey  Web Resources for Learning More (con’t) The Center for the Study of Social Policy http://www.cssp.org/reform/strengthening-families/the-basics/protective-factorshe Center for the Study of Social Policy  2012 Resource Guide:  Preventing Child Maltreatment Promoting Well-Being:  A Network for Action http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/guide2012/guide.pdf   Question, comments, and observations   Additional resources on conference electronic resource board  Thanks for participating!  DISCUSSION 

“Ready Families, Ready Children” Family Engagement Approaches that Matter

https://ecommons.udayton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&context=catholiced_summit

“Ready Families, Ready Children” Family Engagement Approaches that Matter

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