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, trusting relationships are what truly drive progress and improve outcomes.
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!
Bringing Families on Board: A Roadmap
Additional Family Engagement Resources
Webinar:
8 Ways to Take Your Family Engagement Efforts to the Next LevelInfographic:
What is Family Voice and Why Does it Matter?Webinar:
Bringing Families On Board As Powerful Partners in Our WorkHave 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!