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Brené Brown on Empathy

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Family and Community Engagement Checklist and Forms

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Family and Community Engagement Checklist and Forms

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Self-Care Tips for Family Services Professionals and Home Visitors | HeadStart.gov

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Promoting simple but effective ways to support one’s own wellness can contribute to the wellness of individuals who work with families, the overall program, and the families served.

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Reflect on your own perspective | HeadStart.gov

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Guide to Building Relationships with Families

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Guide to Building Relationships with Families

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Strategies for Family Engagement: Attitudes and Practices

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Strategies for Family Engagement: Attitudes and Practices

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Connecting with students' families is an important part of creating a strong school community. And by family we mean the people who are most important in your students' lives. Whether that's the traditional definition of mom and dad, or one mom, or two dads, or grandma or grandpa, or a very loving caregiver.

Sponsoring events, like Muffins with Mom or Donuts with Dad, that bring people in and build community is a great idea. But sometimes, without realizing it, we put labels on events that may put some people off. The last thing we would ever want to do is exclude those kids whose family may not be considered traditional.

Here are a few tips that will help you be more conscious of your verbiage and make sure your community events are welcoming and successful for everyone.

Don't limit invitations to a certain gender or specific relationship.

It's not really necessary to designate an event for moms only or dads only, etc.. What's important is for students to be able to include someone they care about in a special school event. With that in mind, here are a few substitutions that would make anyone feel welcome, along with a few examples of events.

Buddy: Breakfast with Buddies, Bagels with Buddies

Caregiver: Cupcakes with Caregivers, Cookies with Those Who Care

Dear One: Donuts with Dear Ones

Family: Family Feast, Family Fiesta

Favorite: French Toast with Your Favorites

Grownup: Donuts with Grownups

Guardian: Goodies with Guardians

Loved One: Lunch with Loved Ones

Pal: Pancakes with Pals, Picnic with Pals

Parent: Pastries with Parents, Pancakes with Parents

Peeps: Pizza with Your Peeps, Popcorn with Your Peeps

Special Guest: Special Treats with Special Guests

Someone Special: KISS: Kids Invite Someone Special

VIP: VIP Day, VIP Breakfast

Keep it simple.

Why even designate who can or cannot attend? Just give your event a snappy name and tell kids how many people they can invite. You might be surprised by the diversity of people in your students' circle of care. Because after all, building a supportive community is what it's all about, right?

Let your school mascot serve as host.

Someone put a lot of effort into coming up with that cute name for your student body. Show your school pride by sponsoring an event that includes the name. For example, Breakfast with Bulldogs, Pancakes with Pumas, or Coffee with Cougars.

Go generic.

The simplest way to avoid confusion or unintentionally exclude some people is to simply call your event what it is. Sure, it's flashier to come up with a social media-worthy title, but what's the real goal here? To build community and make students and the people who are important to them feel welcome.

Some examples: Ice Cream Social, Game Night, Math Night, Science Night, Talent Show, School Picnic, Open Mic Night, etc.

For more fun ideas for school/community events, check out this list from PTO Today .

And set the tone for inclusion and community in your school with this free welcome poster .
How are you making sure your school is inclusive? Share with us in our Principal Life Facebook group. Plus, learn how to make your school a safe space for LGBTQ students.

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Enough With Donuts With Dads and Muffins With Moms-Let's Make All School Events Inclusive - WeAreTeachers

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Connecting with students' families is an important part of creating a strong school community. And by family we mean the people who are most important in your students' lives. Whether that's the traditional definition of mom and dad, or one mom, or two dads, or grandma or grandpa, or a very loving caregiver.

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Cultivating Wellness: 8 Dimensions of Staff Well-being | HeadStart.gov

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This resource describes eight dimensions of staff well-being. Head Start programs can use this resource to make sure they are promoting staff wellness across all dimensions.

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Joining the Policy Council | HeadStart.gov

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Explore this tip sheet to help you decide whether to join your program’s Policy Council.

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https://headstart.gov/organizational-leadership/article/what-policy-council?redirect=eclkc

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What Is the Policy Council? | HeadStart.gov

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Parents and family members often have questions about their program’s Policy Council. Explore this tip sheet to learn answers to common questions about the Policy Council.

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Policy Council Tips

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Congratulations! You have been elected to the Policy Council. Let's explore what it's like to be a member.

Read the scenario below.

Scenario Yvonne is excited to attend her first Policy Council meeting. Her family service worker, Maria, has explained what to expect. She also offered to attend Yvonne's first meeting with her. She introduced Yvonne to Susan, a former parent member. Susan agreed to become her mentor and answer any questions. At the first meeting, the Policy Council chairperson welcomes new members. Maria introduces Yvonne to the group. During the meeting, a policy document is handed out for review. It will be voted on at the next meeting. The next morning, Yvonne calls Susan to ask about the policy document. She tells Susan she does not understand what she needs to vote on. She felt too shy to ask questions at the meeting. Susan explains the proposed policy change and why it is being discussed. Yvonne now understands the proposal and the different opinions to consider. Yvonne feels more confident about speaking up at the next meeting.

Like Yvonne, many parents have questions after they join the Policy Council. See some common questions below. You may have other questions. Every program is unique. Be sure to talk with program staff about specific questions you have.

Common Questions About Serving on the Policy Council

What happens after the Policy Council training if I am still not sure what to do?
You can connect with program leadership for more support. Go to the program director, family services manager, or parent engagement coordinator to talk about your questions and concerns. Work with a staff member to discover together how you can feel successful and confident as a member of the Policy Council.

Can I make suggestions about proposed policies?
As a Policy Council member, you can make suggestions or ask questions about any matters that are brought to the Council. It is your right and responsibility as a Council member to help with decision-making. Ask program staff for more information if you need it. You can also ask the Policy Council to delay a vote while you learn more.

Reflections

Take a moment to reflect on each question:

What questions or concerns do you have about serving on the Policy Council?

Who can you talk with to help answer your questions?

What else can your program do to help as you serve as a Policy Council member?

Additional Resources

" Go to Head Start Policy Council Series

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Congratulations! You have been elected to the Policy Council. Let's explore what it's like to be a member. Read the scenario below. Scenario Yvonne is excited to attend her first Policy Council meeting. Her family service worker, Maria, has explained what to expect. She also offered to attend Yvonne's first meeting with her.

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https://headstart.gov/family-engagement/article/parent-family-community-engagement-simulation-boosting-school-readiness-through-effective-family?redirect=eclkc

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Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Simulation: Boosting School Readiness Through Effective Family Engagement Series | HeadStart.gov

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What you do and say matters! Explore and practice everyday strategies to develop Positive Goal-Oriented Relationships with a family.