Family Engagement

 

Family engagement is an interactive process through which program staff and families, family members, and their children build positive and goal-oriented relationships. It is a shared responsibility of families and professionals that requires mutual respect for the roles and strengths each has to offer. Family engagement means doing with—not doing to or for—families. At the program level, family engagement involves parents’ engagement with their children and with staff as they work together toward the goals that families choose for themselves and their children. It also involves families and staff working toward goals to improve the program. Head Start and Early Head Start staff work together with families, other professionals, and community partners in ways that promote equity, inclusiveness, and cultural and linguistic responsiveness.

Children are at the heart of meaningful family engagement. They are the inspiration for positive, goal-oriented, parent-provider relationships. Parents enter relationships with staff on their children’s behalf, and they deepen these relationships with their children in mind. They know their children better than anyone—their temperaments, personalities, strengths, vulnerabilities, talents, and special needs. They know their own cultures and what they want to transmit to their children. When parents share their knowledge, they improve provider practices and program quality. Head Start and Early Head Start staff create authentic partnerships with parents when they convey their eagerness to welcome parents’ expertise and their readiness to share the care. Parents can believe in the partnership when they feel the passion providers share with them—for the quality of the child’s everyday experiences, for supporting the parent-child relationship, and for laying the foundations early for a thriving future.

Literacy Fall Festival

Head Start and Early Head Start staff and community agencies build partnerships that honor and are responsive to the languages and cultures of the families they serve. Community engagement refers to the mutually respectful, strengths-based interactions of Head Start and Early Head Start staff and families with community members and agencies at all levels. These partnerships support parents’ roles as valued community members and their progress toward their goals for themselves and their children.

Community partners provide tangible child development supports and resources that families and staff want and need. They can work with families and Head Start and Early Head Start staff toward such goals. These include parents’ educational advancement, economic mobility, and other aspects of family well-being. Head Start and Early Head Start staff actively seek out and respond to community voices, strengths, and needs. They collaborate with families, community members, and other local agencies to identify common goals, align resources, and share data for continuous improvement and effective partnerships. Information taken from eclk.org: http://bit.ly/31kGC52)

Male Initiative 

The purpose of the" Male Initiative" program is to strengthen the role of Fathers and male figures in the lives of their families. Strong families are essential to the future and the well-being of the child. "Head Start has a long history of acknowledging that male father figures are important contributors to the school readiness of children and to the well-being of families. Head Start and Early Head Start (EHS) programs consistently engage fathers as advocates, lifelong educators, and first teachers of their children. There are a variety of father engagement activities that goes on at Parent/Child Incorporated. Many of our programs examine the unique needs and strengths of fathers. Some of our programs have prioritized efforts to support the relationship between fathers and their children." 

Male Initiative Meeting - Round Table Discussion

 

Parent/Child Incorporated "Male Initiative Program" includes participation, child rearing and engagement. "Engagement is rooted in positive relationships. With involvement, there is an emphasis on being present. With engagement, there is a focus on creating and sustaining ongoing relationships. The intent is to support families and to benefit children’s learning and development. In Head Start, the Male Initiative means that father figures and staff work as  partners to promote the child’s best interest, to exchange knowledge about the child, and to share in program governance. They also work together to establish child and family goals that are motivating and fulfilling. Building a trusting relationship based on knowledge and acceptance of the individual opens the door for meaningful communication. A trusting relationship can lead to positive changes for families and for your program." ( Information taken from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov)

Male Initiative Center Food Drive

Please click on the link to view Engaging Fathers Video: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/video/engaging-fathers

Fatherhood or Male Initiative: https://www.fatherhood.gov/

Fathers: http://www.fathers.com/