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Families are critical partners in your programs. This lesson will define the term “family,” describe the importance of families in your programs, and define family-centered practice. This lesson also describes the role you have in creating a climate that promotes respect for families among all program staff.

As part of guiding staff members toward including and involving families, you will need to provide information about family engagement. Successful child development and school-age programs depend on relationships and collaborations with children’s families and communities. For this reason, it is critical to establish positive partnerships with children’s families and to include families in your programs. This lesson will help you identify ways to help staff members establish and maintain positive relationships with children’s families.

A strong partnership between staff and families is built on good communication. Good communication skills help ensure that (a) accurate information is shared, (b) expectations are shared, and (c) trust is established. Your role is to help staff members develop good communication skills, which are especially important when issues arise. This lesson will focus on strategies you can use to help staff members improve their communication with families.

Just like families of children who are developing typically, families of children with special needs have dreams, hopes, and concerns about their children. This lesson will highlight the ways in which you can play a significant role in supporting staff members as they support families of children with special needs. It will provide recommendations for effective collaboration with these families.

As a trainer or curriculum specialist, you and staff members play an important role in helping strengthen and empower families in your program. Each family has unique strengths and needs. All families, especially military families, experience challenging times. This lesson will provide strategies and tools to help staff and families find resources to help manage challenges.