Carrying the Work Forward with Families
Head Start staff and parents bring unique elements to their relationship while they work with a focus on supporting children’s growth and learning.
Parent, Family and Community Engagement
Taking Steps to Strengthen Relationships and Support Parents
Head Start staff can use these three steps to build relationships with parents and support their learning and decision-making.
Using a Parallel Process
The positive, goal-directed relationships Head Start staff form with parents can strengthen the relationships parents have with their children. This parallel process supports parents in self-discovery.
Co-creating Strong Bonds
Secure relationships are the foundation of trust. By using positive, strengths-based attitudes, staff can create trusting, supportive partnerships with parents.
Lessons Learned from Using the Family Connections Materials
Explore this guide that provides specific observations from long-term partnerships with Early Head Start and Head Start programs and offers an insight on the most effective use of the Family Connections materials.
Family Connections Readiness Guide
Explore this guide that includes information and processes focused on assessing a program's level of "readiness" to engage in the kind of work involved in reaching out to families and children facing adversity.
Reflection and Planning Tool for Partnering with Families Experiencing Homelessness
Use this tool to reflect on your program’s relationship-building practices and plan for next steps in supporting families experiencing homelessness.
Supporting Professionals Who Support Families: The Parallel Process
Consider how you might enhance what you already do to partner with families experiencing homelessness. Use this tool to reflect on your program’s relationship-building practices and plan for the next steps in supporting families experiencing homelessness.
Decision-making Tool to Determine a Family’s Homelessness Situation
Use this tool to determine a child and family's situation or status using the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s definition of “homeless children and youth.”
Connecting with Partners Planning Worksheet
Working with local partners is a key strategy for identifying and reaching out to families experiencing homelessness.