Trusting relationships are at the heart of meaningful and effective family engagement
Because we have been working directly with families across the state for over 40 years, we are often asked by organizations and communities how to get the families they serve further engaged in their work. The truth is, there isn’t a single process or formula. Each community has different strengths, challenges, priorities, and perspectives. However, one thing all successful family engagement efforts have in common is that building trusting relationships is at the heart of this work. Meaningful and effective family engagement does not just happen. It is an intentional process where collaborative, and trusting relationships are developed over time.
Four decades spent working with families and professionals to build collaborative, productive partnerships has allowed us to identify the conditions necessary for successful and sustainable family engagement.
Family engagement is a partnership between families and professionals working together to achieve shared outcomes. It is a process through which families and professionals build trusting relationships and requires commitment from all individuals.
Meaningful family engagement efforts improve family and childhood outcomes while also improving outcomes for professionals. When we invest in learning from and with the people we serve, it informs our professional practice and makes our programs more relevant and accessible.
When families feel their voices are respected, heard, and validated, their investment in the work grows, communication improves, and everyone's capacity to address challenges increases. We can not achieve high-quality programming, services, or outcomes without them!
Eight conditions are needed for meaningful and sustainable family engagement.
Family Engagement Webinars
These brief webinars are under 15 minutes each. They are designed for leaders in education, healthcare, social services, and family support to serve as an introduction to making the family engagement work you are already doing, or planning to do, more meaningful and impactful.
Local Stories
Learn about some of our family engagement work with the Preschool Development Grant Explore the stories and see how three very different Granite State communities are partnering with families to inform their work, improve outcomes for their youngest citizens, and make family engagement truly meaningful.
Have Questions?
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT VISION
We have been working with families and professionals for over 40 years to make their family engagement journeys meaningful and achievable. Let’s talk about yours!