Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-ece-social-worker--a-vital-piece-of-any-family-centered-program/5022384/
“When schools build partnerships with families that respond to their concerns and honor their contributions, they are successful in sustaining connections that are aimed at improving student achievement.”�" Anne Henderson and Karen Mapp (2002)
In a study conducted by the Southwest Educational Development Lab, A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement, made the observation in the introductory quote. Studies like this reveal that children who have a strong family support system have a better chance for success in an educational setting.
Quality initiatives, whether at the local, state, or federal level, are all emphasizing family engagement and encouraging programs to do more to bridge the gap between school and home life. How has your Early Childhood Education (ECE) program implemented family engagement? What strategies are you employing to get your busy families to spend more time at your school, engage with other families, and actually listen when you offer support or referrals? This is not an easy thing to accomplish.
Increased family engagement not only improves the child’s chances of success, it also greatly improves parenting skills, parental and family resilience, and helps ECE programs connect families with the resources they need. ...