March 2014

The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) is pleased to announce a new Family Engagement and School Readiness Series for 2014. This series will explore family engagement as a foundation for school readiness. Monthly newsletters will highlight resources and program examples to support family partnerships. Head Start and Early Head Start staff can use these resources in trainings, staff meetings, coaching, and work with families.

Family Engagement and School Readiness

School readiness is a shared responsibility between staff and families. It is rooted in family well-being and strong parent-child relationships. Family engagement in Head Start and Early Head Start promotes ongoing learning and development for children and families. When family engagement activities are systemic and integrated across programs, families are more engaged. This leads to children’s healthy development and school readiness.

Featured Resources to Support Family Engagement and School Readiness

Research to Practice Series: Family Engagement and School Readiness

Parents and families guide and participate in the everyday learning of their children at home, in programs, and in their communities. Find research and best practices that show how important families are in supporting children’s learning and development. Use this resource to inform training, coaching, and reflective practice and supervision.

The Foundations for Life and School Readiness Begin in Infancy

Parents and caregivers have a major impact on a child’s learning. Watch this webcast from the 17th Annual Birth to Three Institute to learn more about the connection between early experiences in infancy and school readiness. Programs can use this resource for training and staff meeting discussions.

Best Practices in Family and Community Engagement Video Series: Engaging Fathers

Watch this video to learn about strategies and practices to engage fathers and support school readiness. It includes examples of strong program leadership, a welcoming environment, and a commitment to family partnerships. A facilitators’ guide suggests ways to use the video and guiding questions for professional development. The video and guides are available in English and Spanish.

Family Engagement and School Readiness Resources on ECLKC

Visit our new NCPFCE Family Engagement and School Readiness page on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) for additional tools and resources.

How to Subscribe

Select this link to subscribe to the series: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family/center/subscribe-pfce.html

Please share this message with all staff and supervisors in your program who may be interested in participating.

Questions?

Email questions about the Family Engagement and School Readiness Series to OHS_PFCE@HSICC.org. We’d love to hear about your program’s efforts and progress around this topic.