1. REGIONAL PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROJECT UPDATE 2013/2014

2. Introduction
“By adopting a shared language across a system, professionals across all sectors and organizations will be able to work together effectively to plan and organize services…."
Ministry of Children and Youth Services (2011). Defining Integration: A Best Start Working Paper. MYCS: Toronto.

3. What we set out to do
Develop a commonly understood and accepted definition of parent engagement
Develop a regional parent engagement strategy with required local variations
Identify shared training resources
Develop parent engagement training tool kit(s) for training tables

4. What we set out to do
Develop community specific plans for each planning table
Develop parent engagement training tool kit(s) for training tables
It is our intention to shape the way parent/caregiver outreach and engagement is understood and carried out across the southeast region

5. Action Research Process
January 14th: Symposium in Kingston
January 15th: Symposium in Frankville
Purpose: To identify critical components of a shared understanding and common definition of parent engagement in South East Ontario
Confirmed preference for
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

7. Action Research Process
January 28th, 2014: Follow-up mtg in Kingston
Small group of symposia participants met to review and discuss themes generated at each symposium; and confirm priority content for “common understanding of family engagement”

8. Shared definition… common understanding Common Ideas
Philosophy: Speaks to beliefs and values
Respectful
Strength-based
Mindful of expertise of families
Inclusive
Accessible
Collaborative

9. Common Ideas Practice: Speaks to our behaviour and actions
Clear communication
Opportunity to learn
On a continuum
Constantly changing
Crosses all sectors
Different from youth engagement

10. Planning Table Guidance
Each planning table assigned responsibility for project management to existing committee or project-specific work group
Thanks to Gillian, Gwendy, Marci, Shannon!
February 2014: Reviewed common ideas statements and overview of consultant’s report

11. Where we are now Parent Engagement Family Engagement
Shared definition Common understanding
Common ideas
Each planning table will use common ideas to inform own understanding or definition of family engagement

12. Where are we going?
Generate and approve understanding of family engagement for EKIOC Planning Framework
If this is our understanding of FE, what is our ROLE?
Should EKIOC:
Engage directly with families?
Support and promote family engagement
among member agencies by providing
resources, information and training?

13. What’s next The final report due end of March 2014
Asked to direct priority attn to:
Discussion of examples, options and ways to engage families at planning table level
Readiness Assessments and concrete tools to support parent engagement: planning tables; organizations
Promising practices for planning tables
Recommendations and next steps for planning tables, collectively (report) and individually (covering letter)