A Family Guide to Getting Involved With Correctional Education Trina Osher, M.A. President, Huff Osher Consulting, Inc.

2 Family Involvement Matters!  “The evidence is consistent, positive, and convincing: families have a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life.” (Henderson, A.T., & Mapp, K.L. (2002). A new wave of evidence: The impact of school, family, and community connections on student achievement. Austin, TX: National Center for Family & Community Connections with Schools, Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 7).  Getting involved with correctional education can be challenging for many families.  Encouraging families to get involved can be challenging for facility and program staff.

3 NDTAC Has Tools to Help!  Working With Families of Children in the Juvenile Justice and Corrections Systems: A Guide for Education Program Leaders, Principals, and Building Administrators Working With Families of Children in the Juvenile Justice and Corrections Systems: A Guide for Education Program Leaders, Principals, and Building Administrators Strategies staff at correctional education facilities and programs can use to increase family involvement Three-tier model for organizing efforts to engage families  Facility Toolkit for Engaging Families in Their Child's Education at a Juvenile Justice Facility Facility Toolkit for Engaging Families in Their Child's Education at a Juvenile Justice Facility Tools for families Tools for facility staff  Family Guide to Getting Involved in Your Child's Education at a Juvenile Justice Facility Family Guide to Getting Involved in Your Child's Education at a Juvenile Justice Facility Practical strategies for common situations

4 Three-Tier Model to Engage Families 4 Special efforts for a few families Intensive: 3rd Tier Additional supports to boost some families Additional supports to boost some families Selective: 2nd Tier Opportunities afforded to all families Opportunities afforded to all families Universal: 1st Tier

5 Facility Toolkit The Facility Toolkit includes:  Information for facilities and stakeholders about how to use the Family Guide  Customizable tools that can be used to help promote family participation in a student’s education Tools 1–5, including a Family Guide, sample letters, a tip sheet, and a questionnaire, are intended for distribution to students’ families. Tools 6–8, including a facility tip sheet and planning tool, are intended for use by facility staff.

6 All tools are customizable  Facility and program staff are encouraged to customize the Family Guide for their setting.  Some items in the Tool Kit are templates that can be modified.  Facility staff should review tool kit materials for families carefully.  Discuss materials with some family members of currently enrolled or recently graduated students.  Partner with families to adapt materials to accurately reflect the policies and practices of their school, program, or facility.

7 Family Guide  The Family Guide should be shared with parents and family members as soon as their child is enrolled in the program. It includes practical strategies families can use to: Build a relationship with their child’s correctional education program Keep their son or daughter on track for completing school and becoming a successful young adult

8 Family Guide The Family Guide includes information for families about:  Getting off to a good start  Ensuring that their child is making academic progress  Preparing for their child’s return home  Connecting with other families  Taking action when things are not going well  Advocating for better programming, family involvement, and support  Staying connected to the correctional education program