Presented by Becky Leiter, EC Consultant

 Who are we?  Supervisors  Home Visitors  Nurses  Family Workers  Parents

 There is no secret  It takes hard work  It takes imagination and creativity  Relationship Building is the key

 Parent Involvement  Responsibility of FSW  Revolves around outputs  PI focus is PC, Parent Mtgs, etc  PI collects data about numbers attending  Family Engagement  Embedded in all staff’s work  Positive/Goal Directed  Ongoing relationships  Improve services through data

 Respect  Non-judgmental  Understanding

 Active Listening  Parallel Process

 Attitudes, beliefs and values  Parents perception  Discuss

 Conversation not an interview  Focus on the family with the conversation  Ask open-ended questions/practice active listening  Attitude of “not knowing” and “wanting to understand”

 Encourage different points of view  Listen to those points!  Share power and knowledge Collaborate with the family

 Observe home visits  Evaluate yourself as a home visitor  Does conversation happen?  Observe body language of all/non-verbal messages

 Open ended questions  Non-judgmental  Respect for opposing points of view  Acknowledgement of family strengths

 Participation and engagement Involved in Planning Connection Receptiveness Peer Support Many others goals can be identified by each program

 Include families in the planning  Include grandparents in the activities  Base activities, training, presentations on the Family Goal Plans/Child Outcomes/Family Interests

 We have talked a lot about relationships  A subject most programs feel comfortable with  What is the next step, how do we evolve to family engagement? Purposefully planning for family engagement in the program

 Handout of simple action plan  At your table: identify the problem  Create a Goal  Identify some strategies  People responsible  What outcome do you want

 Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)  Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (PCAN)  Head Start Performance Standards  Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework (Markers of Progress)  Home Visiting the PITC Way (Program for Infant Toddler Care; West Ed)

 For your participation and sharing of ideas and the hard work and time you put into the program  Contact information: Becky Leiter, EC Consultant Cell: