Family Engagement Plan

 

Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Plan
 
The mission of West Orange Cove CISD: In partnership with our community, our mission is to transform lives through an exceptional educational experience. North Early Learning Center supports the District's mission by collaborating with families and the community as we work together towards our mission. The mission of North Early Learning Center as a progressive, multicultural family-focused community is to produce physically healthy children to succeed within the formal educational systems with effective communication and social-emotional skills through a developmentally appropriate environment, which involves parents, staff, area resources, and partnerships with other agencies. Our family engagement plan assists the district in achieving and maintaining high levels of family involvement and a positive family attitude toward education. An effective family engagement plan creates a foundation for the collaboration of mutual partners, embraces the individuality and uniqueness of families, and promotes a culture of learning that is child centered, age appropriate, and family driven.
 
Definitions as related to the plan’s purpose:
Family-Adults responsible for the care of a child(ren) and support the early learning and development of the child.
Family Engagement-The mutual responsibility of families, schools, and communities to build relationships to support student learning and achievement, and to support family well-being and the continuous learning and development of children, families, and educators. Family engagement is integrated in the child's educational experience, supports the whole family, and is both culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate.
 
Family Outcomes:
Family Well-being:
Family advocates, staff, and coordinators provide families with support in various areas and economic/financial stability to make sure families are safe-

●     Program orientations (information is given to parents on safety, health, mental health, volunteer training, program policies, program procedures, bus safety, and availability of community resources)
●     Parent education opportunities
●     Community partnerships
●     Family events and workshops
●    Counseling services
●    Parent computer lab

Positive Parent Child-Relationships:
Equip families with tools to enhance and extend student learning-
●    Campus trainings and events that focus on school readiness goals
●    Weekly activities sent home to families through newsletters and parent engagement emails
●    Parent engagement online video library to support concepts, skills, and family relationships
●    Literacy Initiative (books sent home twice a semester)
●    Monthly calendars
●    Monthly contacts by teachers and family service staff
●    Parent teacher conferences and home visits conducted 4 times a year
●    Assist with vaccination requirements
●    Family outcomes conducted multiple times a year with follow ups
 

Families as Lifelong Educators:
Parents and families observe, guide, promote, and participate in the everyday learning-

●    Campus trainings and events
●    Open campus policy
●    Ages and stages training/ information
●    Workshops (supporting family needs)
●    Volunteering
●    Transition activities
●    Daily communication folder
●    Parent engagement resource
●    Assist with PINUs
●    Weekly Newsletters

 

Families as Learners:
Families advance their own learning interests through education, training and other experiences that support their parenting and goals-

●    Campus trainings/ workshops
●    Events (ignites, family nights, family connection events, etc.)
●    Ages and Stages training/overview
●    Parent Curriculum Committee
●    Policy Council
●    Parent Committee
●    Volunteering
●    Adult education services
●    Counseling Services
●    Various campus committees
●    School Health Advisory Committee
 

Family Engagement in Transitions:
Families are encouraged to support and advocate for their child's learning and development as they transition to new learning environments-

●    Transition activities (celebrations, certificates, etc.)
●    Materials to support transition
●    Visits to the local schools students will attend
●    Universal Screener to identify individual needs
●    Developmental/Milestone Checklist
●    Early Intervention (ECI, EPIC)
●    Build relationships between program and local districts within service area
●    Schedule face to face meetings for individual students when needed
 

Family Connection to Peers and Community:
Parents and families form connections with peers and mentors in formal or informal social networks that are supportive and educational and that enhance social well-being and community life-
(North Early Learning Center establishes partnerships with multiple community agencies)

●    Local Churches
●    Medical Physicians
●    Childcare Centers
●    Mental Health Organizations
●    Dentists
●    Local school districts
●    Local Colleges
●    Texas Workforce Solutions
●    Transition Services
●    Translation Services
●    WIC (Women Infants and Children)
 

Families as Advocates and Leaders:
Parents and families participate in leadership development decision-making program-

●    Head Start families may be elected to serve on Policy Council
●    Parents can serve on the Curriculum Committee
●    All parents have an opportunity to serve on parent committee
●    School Health Advisory Committee
●    Professional development training opportunities for families
●    Showcase talents
●    Encourage self-growth and employment opportunities (in and out of district)
●    Volunteer opportunities
●    Parent Surveys
●    Parent engagement resources