Innovation Exchange - Family engagement
ENGAGING FAMILIES AS CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WORK OF FEDERAL AGENCIES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FRANCES FROST, FAMILY AMBASSADOR JANE HODGDON, OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT
ENGAGING FAMILIES IN OUR WORK REFLECTION QUESTIONS
For discussion and reflection: Q1: What does family engagement mean to you? Q2: What do you currently do to engage families in the work of your agency? Q3: Why is it important to engage families in our work? Q4: What are you trying to accomplish in engaging families? Q5: How can federal agencies work together to ensure families are engaged in the development and implementation of policy and programs?
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OUR WORK AT ED OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND PREPARATION FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS BY FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS ED’S 4,400 STAFFERS ARE DEDICATED TO: Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds. Collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research. Focusing national attention on key educational issues. Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.
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ED’S SCHOOL AMBASSADOR FELLOWS Mission & Vision The Department’s School Ambassador Fellowship programs are designed to improve education for students by involving practitioners in the development and implementation of national education policy. The Fellowship seeks to: Create a community of school leaders who share expertise and collaborate with policymakers and leaders on national education issues. Involve practitioners in developing policies that affect the classroom. Expand the leadership of educators at the national, state, and local levels. 4
ED’S SCHOOL AMBASSADOR FELLOWS A DIVERSE NETWORK OF EDUCATORS
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“PARENT” TO “FAMILY” Inclusive and respective of all adults who raise and care for children, to include biological, adoptive, and foster parents; grandparents; legal and informal guardians; and adult siblings
Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services; Office of the Asst Secretary for Planning & Evaluation: Children in Nonparental Care: Findings from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health 03/01/2014
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“INVOLVEMENT” TO “ENGAGEMENT” Individual Responsibility
• Shared Responsibility in Partnership
Deficit-Based/Adversarial • Strength-Based and Collaborative Random Acts
• Systemic
Add-on and one-time project • Integrated and Sustained with Purposeful Connections to Learning
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Events Driven
• Learning and Outcomes Driven
Compliance
• Ownership and Continuous Improvement
COMMON PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
SUPPORT EQUITY TO ENSURE GOOD OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN
Welcoming all families Empowers families
Effective Communication
Builds capacity of staff and families
Links to mission of agency Builds community
8
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS EXAMPLE: HEADSTART – PARENT, FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
9
ED–HHS POLICY ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Plan for & prioritize family engagement Communicate consistent messages supporting strong family engagement Invest & allocate adequate resources to support engagement Establish policies, procedures & practices that support engagement – Examples: promote use of recommended practices, create staff positions dedicated to engagement, provide professional development
Establish workforce capacity building Develop and integrate engagement data for continuous improvement Joint Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades, 2016 http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/families.html
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FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 1: GETTING STARTED
Clarify your goals: What are you trying to accomplish? Work with partner organizations to identify and engage stakeholders
11
• What families are most impacted by the policy or program? • Are there any racial/economic disparities being addressed?
• Who are the key community groups that need to be involved? • Consider community demographics – race, economics, language • Reach out to diverse groups and organizations • Go outside of the normal participants
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 2: ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Speak to your community
• Translate materials as needed for your community • Review for cultural competency • Provide any necessary background information
Use multiple vehicles to reach your community
• Schedule meetings in various, easily accessible locations and convenient times around typical work hours • Get information to families using different methods • Blogs, social media, webinars, forums, focus groups, texts, flyers, mailers, posters • Meet people where they are (literally)
12
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 2: ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Identify community ambassadors
• Who are trusted, connected people in the various communities?
Ask for input
• Provide multiple options for input • Explain what is open for input, any parameters (existing laws, regulations outside the scope of meeting/issue)
Demonstrate authentic plan to use input 13
• Explain timeline, processes • Have plan to provide feedback back to the public
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 2: ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Keep materials brief, understandable
• Include visuals, graphics, shareable information • Prepare information for different groups, if feasible (i.e. parents, business owners, community members, partner organizations)
Communicate early and often
• Own the story • Inform families how to get information from your organization/agency
14
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 3: SUSTAINING ENGAGEMENT
Keep the public informed
• Provide staff with talking points & information that can be shared, to answer public questions • Inform public of intermediary and final decisions
Stay connected with community to build longterm relationships
• Provide information on related issues and additional opportunities for input • Provide opportunities for taskforce, community collaborations • Be available for organization/group meetings
15
Questions? 16
RESOURCES From ED Dual Capacity-Building Framework – https://www2.ed.gov/documents/family-community/partners-education.pdf
ED – HHS Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades, 2016 – http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/families.html
Stakeholder Communications and Engagement Publications (RSN Strategic Communications Resources) – http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/implementation-support-unit/techassist/resources.html#sce
From Jobs for the Future, a TA Provider: http://www.jff.org/initiatives/place-based-initiatives-and-performance-partnership-pilots
Family and School Partnerships http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/iniatiatives/files/Family-School%20Partnership-010517.FINAL_.pdf
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HOW TO STAY IN CONTACT/INFORMED Frances Frost, Family Ambassador Office of Elementary & Secondary Education U.S. Department of Education Email: [email protected] Twitter: @FamiliesatED Jane Hodgdon, Lead for Place Based Initiatives Office of Innovation and Improvement U.S. Department of Education Email: [email protected] Phone: 202-453-6620 18
ENGAGING FAMILIES IN OUR WORK REFLECTION QUESTIONS
For discussion and reflection: Q1: What does family engagement mean to you? Q2: What do you currently do to engage families in the work of your agency? Q3: Why is it important to engage families in our work? Q4: What are you trying to accomplish in engaging families? Q5: How can federal agencies work together to ensure families are engaged in the development and implementation of policy and programs?
2
OUR WORK AT ED OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND PREPARATION FOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS BY FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS ED’S 4,400 STAFFERS ARE DEDICATED TO: Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds. Collecting data on America's schools and disseminating research. Focusing national attention on key educational issues. Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.
3
ED’S SCHOOL AMBASSADOR FELLOWS Mission & Vision The Department’s School Ambassador Fellowship programs are designed to improve education for students by involving practitioners in the development and implementation of national education policy. The Fellowship seeks to: Create a community of school leaders who share expertise and collaborate with policymakers and leaders on national education issues. Involve practitioners in developing policies that affect the classroom. Expand the leadership of educators at the national, state, and local levels. 4
ED’S SCHOOL AMBASSADOR FELLOWS A DIVERSE NETWORK OF EDUCATORS
5
“PARENT” TO “FAMILY” Inclusive and respective of all adults who raise and care for children, to include biological, adoptive, and foster parents; grandparents; legal and informal guardians; and adult siblings
Source: U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services; Office of the Asst Secretary for Planning & Evaluation: Children in Nonparental Care: Findings from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health 03/01/2014
6
“INVOLVEMENT” TO “ENGAGEMENT” Individual Responsibility
• Shared Responsibility in Partnership
Deficit-Based/Adversarial • Strength-Based and Collaborative Random Acts
• Systemic
Add-on and one-time project • Integrated and Sustained with Purposeful Connections to Learning
7
Events Driven
• Learning and Outcomes Driven
Compliance
• Ownership and Continuous Improvement
COMMON PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
SUPPORT EQUITY TO ENSURE GOOD OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN
Welcoming all families Empowers families
Effective Communication
Builds capacity of staff and families
Links to mission of agency Builds community
8
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS EXAMPLE: HEADSTART – PARENT, FAMILY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
9
ED–HHS POLICY ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES
Plan for & prioritize family engagement Communicate consistent messages supporting strong family engagement Invest & allocate adequate resources to support engagement Establish policies, procedures & practices that support engagement – Examples: promote use of recommended practices, create staff positions dedicated to engagement, provide professional development
Establish workforce capacity building Develop and integrate engagement data for continuous improvement Joint Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades, 2016 http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/families.html
10
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 1: GETTING STARTED
Clarify your goals: What are you trying to accomplish? Work with partner organizations to identify and engage stakeholders
11
• What families are most impacted by the policy or program? • Are there any racial/economic disparities being addressed?
• Who are the key community groups that need to be involved? • Consider community demographics – race, economics, language • Reach out to diverse groups and organizations • Go outside of the normal participants
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 2: ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Speak to your community
• Translate materials as needed for your community • Review for cultural competency • Provide any necessary background information
Use multiple vehicles to reach your community
• Schedule meetings in various, easily accessible locations and convenient times around typical work hours • Get information to families using different methods • Blogs, social media, webinars, forums, focus groups, texts, flyers, mailers, posters • Meet people where they are (literally)
12
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 2: ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Identify community ambassadors
• Who are trusted, connected people in the various communities?
Ask for input
• Provide multiple options for input • Explain what is open for input, any parameters (existing laws, regulations outside the scope of meeting/issue)
Demonstrate authentic plan to use input 13
• Explain timeline, processes • Have plan to provide feedback back to the public
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 2: ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES
Keep materials brief, understandable
• Include visuals, graphics, shareable information • Prepare information for different groups, if feasible (i.e. parents, business owners, community members, partner organizations)
Communicate early and often
• Own the story • Inform families how to get information from your organization/agency
14
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PART 3: SUSTAINING ENGAGEMENT
Keep the public informed
• Provide staff with talking points & information that can be shared, to answer public questions • Inform public of intermediary and final decisions
Stay connected with community to build longterm relationships
• Provide information on related issues and additional opportunities for input • Provide opportunities for taskforce, community collaborations • Be available for organization/group meetings
15
Questions? 16
RESOURCES From ED Dual Capacity-Building Framework – https://www2.ed.gov/documents/family-community/partners-education.pdf
ED – HHS Policy Statement On Family Engagement From The Early Years To The Early Grades, 2016 – http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/families.html
Stakeholder Communications and Engagement Publications (RSN Strategic Communications Resources) – http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/implementation-support-unit/techassist/resources.html#sce
From Jobs for the Future, a TA Provider: http://www.jff.org/initiatives/place-based-initiatives-and-performance-partnership-pilots
Family and School Partnerships http://www.jff.org/sites/default/files/iniatiatives/files/Family-School%20Partnership-010517.FINAL_.pdf
17
HOW TO STAY IN CONTACT/INFORMED Frances Frost, Family Ambassador Office of Elementary & Secondary Education U.S. Department of Education Email: [email protected] Twitter: @FamiliesatED Jane Hodgdon, Lead for Place Based Initiatives Office of Innovation and Improvement U.S. Department of Education Email: [email protected] Phone: 202-453-6620 18
