LET’S TALK FAMILIES:KEEPING IT REAL

Middle Grades Counselor ConferenceMarch 2009

“Let's Talk Families: Keeping it Real"

This interactive session will share provenstrategies to engage families as studentadvocates and middle school leaders.

Curriculum and resources will be availableto develop model family projects in Your

Community!

Presenters: Shelley Davis, Director California GEAR UPMarsha King, Director Family Initiatives Project

“Let's Talk Families: Keeping it Real"

This interactive session will share provenstrategies to engage families as studentadvocates and middle school leaders.

Curriculum and resources will be availableto develop model family projects in Your

Community!

Presenters: Shelley Davis, Director California GEAR UPMarsha King, Director Family Initiatives Project

“Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important.”

~ President Obama

Students and Families: College Is Their Goal

Students and Families: College Is Their Goal

Nationally…94% of Students and 96% of Families

In California…Families who Expect their Students to attain atleast a four-year degree:

80% of Latino Parents86% of African American Parents90% of Asian Parents

Nationally…94% of Students and 96% of Families

In California…Families who Expect their Students to attain atleast a four-year degree:

80% of Latino Parents86% of African American Parents90% of Asian Parents

Our Students and Families:

In California…

• Increase of 2.2 million students since 1980

• Over 37.0% of all Families are Not Fluent English Speakers

• Over 50% of all students eligible for free and reduced-price meals

• Only a 16.8% increase in per pupil spending in 19 years

Our Students and Families:

In California…

• Increase of 2.2 million students since 1980

• Over 37.0% of all Families are Not Fluent English Speakers

• Over 50% of all students eligible for free and reduced-price meals

• Only a 16.8% increase in per pupil spending in 19 years

PROJECT HISTORY

• In 2002 California GEAR UP and the Parent Institute for Quality Education collaborated to increase the attendance, participation and engagement of English speaking families at California GEAR UP schools and events, particularly African American families.

• Project research included: parent surveys, interviews, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations to design the project to be responsive to the issues and concerns of the families, schools and communities.

• 10 pilot schools were selected for “Family Initiatives Project” services, primarily based on the percentage of African American student enrollment.

PROJECT HISTORY

• In 2002 California GEAR UP and the Parent Institute for Quality Education collaborated to increase the attendance, participation and engagement of English speaking families at California GEAR UP schools and events, particularly African American families.

• Project research included: parent surveys, interviews, focus groups, and one-on-one conversations to design the project to be responsive to the issues and concerns of the families, schools and communities.

• 10 pilot schools were selected for “Family Initiatives Project” services, primarily based on the percentage of African American student enrollment.

• The FIP curriculum was based on a review of proven practices and data from the Parent Institute and other programs. The curriculum incorporates creative strategies to attract and motivate families to:– Address real problems and issues;– Incorporate open-ended questions and learning

activities; – Understand the basic attributes of school

performance;– Support the physical, mental, emotional and social

needs of ALL students.

• In 2008 GEAR UP partnered with California State University, Sacramento to provide conditional acceptance certificates to student participants in the project.

• Aggressive outreach, marketing and community volunteers have been critical to project success.

• The FIP curriculum was based on a review of proven practices and data from the Parent Institute and other programs. The curriculum incorporates creative strategies to attract and motivate families to:– Address real problems and issues;– Incorporate open-ended questions and learning

activities; – Understand the basic attributes of school

performance;– Support the physical, mental, emotional and social

needs of ALL students.

• In 2008 GEAR UP partnered with California State University, Sacramento to provide conditional acceptance certificates to student participants in the project.

• Aggressive outreach, marketing and community volunteers have been critical to project success.

OUTCOMES OUTCOMES • Increase knowledge and awareness in working Increase knowledge and awareness in working

with diverse and at-risk populations with an with diverse and at-risk populations with an emphasis on African American families;emphasis on African American families;

• Create and implement outreach strategies to Create and implement outreach strategies to promote and support family, school and promote and support family, school and community partnerships;community partnerships;

• Learn to utilize best practices for maximum Learn to utilize best practices for maximum family participation in the home, school and family participation in the home, school and community.community.

• Increase knowledge and awareness in working Increase knowledge and awareness in working with diverse and at-risk populations with an with diverse and at-risk populations with an emphasis on African American families;emphasis on African American families;

• Create and implement outreach strategies to Create and implement outreach strategies to promote and support family, school and promote and support family, school and community partnerships;community partnerships;

• Learn to utilize best practices for maximum Learn to utilize best practices for maximum family participation in the home, school and family participation in the home, school and community.community.

The California GEAR UP Family Initiatives Project (FIP)

FAMILY INITIATIVES PROJECTFAMILY INITIATIVES PROJECT• Brings together families, schools and communities as equal partners in the education Brings together families, schools and communities as equal partners in the education

process.process.

• Family gatherings provide information, resources and tools to support families as advocates Family gatherings provide information, resources and tools to support families as advocates for their students.for their students.

• Services are based on recommendations from GEAR UP school leadership teams and the Services are based on recommendations from GEAR UP school leadership teams and the unique contributions of each school community.unique contributions of each school community.

• When possible, facilitators and volunteers are recruited from the school community and When possible, facilitators and volunteers are recruited from the school community and trained by California GEAR UP. trained by California GEAR UP.

• Increase knowledge and awareness in working with diverse and at-risk Increase knowledge and awareness in working with diverse and at-risk populations with an emphasis on African American families;populations with an emphasis on African American families;

• Create and implement outreach strategies to promote and support family, Create and implement outreach strategies to promote and support family, school and community partnerships;school and community partnerships;

• Learn to utilize best practices for maximum family participation in the home, Learn to utilize best practices for maximum family participation in the home, school and community.school and community.

Family Initiatives Project TopicsFamily Initiatives Project Topics

Five Week Sessions:

1. Understanding the Middle School years2. Family Dynamics and Positive

Communication3. How to motivate your child academically 4. How the School System Functions5. Road to The University/Celebration

Five Week Sessions:

1. Understanding the Middle School years2. Family Dynamics and Positive

Communication3. How to motivate your child academically 4. How the School System Functions5. Road to The University/Celebration

Family University Family University

Weekend Family Gathering

• Understanding the middle school years and positive communication

• Steps to follow and available resources about college attendance

• Families make a difference

• Celebration and next steps

Weekend Family Gathering

• Understanding the middle school years and positive communication

• Steps to follow and available resources about college attendance

• Families make a difference

• Celebration and next steps

FAMILIES: Do you really… Know Them?

FAMILIES: Do you really… Know Them?

To better understand why families may not be involved and how to get them involved:

Who?

What?

Where?

How?

REAL CHALLENGES FOR FAMILIESREAL CHALLENGES FOR FAMILIES

• PovertyPoverty• Community ViolenceCommunity Violence• Physical, Emotional, and Sexual AbusePhysical, Emotional, and Sexual Abuse• Alcohol and Substance AbuseAlcohol and Substance Abuse• Divorce Divorce • Single Parenting / Foster homesSingle Parenting / Foster homes• Mental Illness Mental Illness • Lack of or Sporadic Employment Lack of or Sporadic Employment • Negative police environmentNegative police environment

ROLE OF FAMILY, SCHOOL AND ROLE OF FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

ROLE OF FAMILY, SCHOOL AND ROLE OF FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

Understanding ObstaclesUnderstanding Obstacles

Shared ResponsibilityShared Responsibility

Overcoming ObstaclesOvercoming Obstacles

Understanding ObstaclesUnderstanding Obstacles

Shared ResponsibilityShared Responsibility

Overcoming ObstaclesOvercoming Obstacles

SHAREDSHARED RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITYSHAREDSHARED RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY

• FAMILIESFAMILIES - - ACTIVELY Involved ACTIVELY Involved

• SCHOOLSSCHOOLS –– WILLING to better WILLING to better understand families and communityunderstand families and community

• COMMUNITIESCOMMUNITIES – – UNDERSTAND UNDERSTAND and serve the needs of Families and and serve the needs of Families and support the efforts of local schoolssupport the efforts of local schools

UNDERSTANDING OBSTACLESUNDERSTANDING OBSTACLES

SCHOOLS COMMUNITY

FAMILY

STUDENT

Role is not validated

Lack understanding about conditions of families, community

Lack sense of responsibility for ALL children

A DISCONNECT BETWEEN ADULTS

OVERCOMING OBSTACLESOVERCOMING OBSTACLESFAMILY

FULLYengaged

COMMUNITY Join the efforts to educate ALL

students

SCHOOL ENTIRE school supports family

involvement with a genuine desire for

ALL students to succeed

SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

OUTREACH & MARKETINGOUTREACH & MARKETING

• Outreach – The systemic attempt to provide services beyond conventional limits, as to particular segments of a community. (simply reaching out): an educational outreach to adults who have disconnected from the value of their role in the educational lives of their children

• Marketing – seeks to make the best match between use of its resources and the needs of families, school and the community it serves – exactly as in any commercial operation

• Outreach – The systemic attempt to provide services beyond conventional limits, as to particular segments of a community. (simply reaching out): an educational outreach to adults who have disconnected from the value of their role in the educational lives of their children

• Marketing – seeks to make the best match between use of its resources and the needs of families, school and the community it serves – exactly as in any commercial operation

Promoting a Family Gathering Promoting a Family Gathering CREATE THE BUZZ…

• Principal invitation to families• Additional postcard to African American families• Phone calls to families• Principal generated automated calls to all families• Principal invites Feeder schools• Counselors invite target families• Students invite families (for extra credit)• Club advisors and organizations invite member’s

families (AVID, athletic clubs, band, after school programs, etc.)

• Student involvement (create and distribute posters and flyers)

• Promote event at other school events (sports games, open house)

• Signage-Banner, Marquee• Announcements (Newsletter, calendar, website)

IDEAS FOR REACHING FAMILIESIDEAS FOR REACHING FAMILIES“It Takes A Village…”

1. MOBILIZE the community to support Family Gatherings

2. MAKE THE CONNECTION: Address family survival needs and community challenges

3. PROVIDE INCENTIVES: Food, prizes, childcare, transportation

4. TAKE TO THE STREETS: Neighborhood centers, churches, community organizations, businesses (Announcements, fliers posters, booth sign-ups)

5. MAKE IT PERSONAL: Phone calls, home visits6. SPREAD THE WORD: PSA, Newspaper, TV

program broadcasts, recruit local DJ to adopt cause

“It Takes A Village…”

1. MOBILIZE the community to support Family Gatherings

2. MAKE THE CONNECTION: Address family survival needs and community challenges

3. PROVIDE INCENTIVES: Food, prizes, childcare, transportation

4. TAKE TO THE STREETS: Neighborhood centers, churches, community organizations, businesses (Announcements, fliers posters, booth sign-ups)

5. MAKE IT PERSONAL: Phone calls, home visits6. SPREAD THE WORD: PSA, Newspaper, TV

program broadcasts, recruit local DJ to adopt cause

ENGAGE, EDUCATE & EMPOWER….ENGAGE, EDUCATE & EMPOWER….

• Relevant, Current Creative, Entertaining Curriculum

• Give participants a Voice

• Be Flexible• Let them personalize• Make them want to

share it• Be Credible• Do it right and make

family involvement a way of life!

THINK ABOUT IT…THINK ABOUT IT…

• Based on Your school demographics:

How do you achieve family participation?

• Based on Your school demographics:

How do you get the word out?

• Based on Your school demographics:

How do you encourage whole school involvement?

• Based on Your school demographics:

How do you achieve family participation?

• Based on Your school demographics:

How do you get the word out?

• Based on Your school demographics:

How do you encourage whole school involvement?

“HE WHO LEARNS, TEACHES”“HE WHO LEARNS, TEACHES”MAKE MEMORIES...CAPTURE KODAK MOMENTS!

THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK WE DO IS WITH FAMILIES…

THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK WE DO IS WITH FAMILIES…

The future and strength of our economy, democracy and society as a whole depends on our ability to educate EVERY child well and to prepare them to take control of

our society.

The future and strength of our economy, democracy and society as a whole depends on our ability to educate EVERY child well and to prepare them to take control of

our society.

RESOURCES

www.castategearup.org

Family Initiatives Project: Tips for Engaging Families

Sign up today for our mailing list

www.castategearup.org

GEAR UP video: “Kids on Campus: A Journey that Changes Lives”

California Colleges & Universities: The Complete Pocket Guide

California GEAR UP Resources and Materials Clearinghouse

Link to “The Counselor Connection”

(916) 551-1757

Family Initiatives Project: Tips for Engaging Families

Sign up today for our mailing list

www.castategearup.org

GEAR UP video: “Kids on Campus: A Journey that Changes Lives”

California Colleges & Universities: The Complete Pocket Guide

California GEAR UP Resources and Materials Clearinghouse

Link to “The Counselor Connection”

(916) 551-1757

GEAR UP RESOURCES FOR YOU