Family Engagement

A Community-Based Approach to Student and Family Well-Being

July 25, 2022 by Carla Guidi

School districts that implement whole-community supports incorporate the needs of families and caregivers in their approach to student well-being. In this audiocast, you’ll hear about how Pajaro Valley Unified School District prioritizes community voice to provide responsive supports that promote multi-generational wellness through their Family Engagement and Wellness Center.

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the Pajaro Valley brief.

Centering Community Engagement in Collaborative School Design

May 31, 2022 by Nick Pishvanov

Family members play a crucial role in supporting positive school experiences for students. In this audiocast, you will hear how EnCompass Academy recruited parents to be active contributors of a school design process that sought to represent perspectives throughout the East Oakland community. This collaborative process led to the development of whole-child strategies that create a caring, supportive school climate while honoring cultural and community strengths.

View the transcript for this audiocast.

Download the EnCompass Brief.

Supporting Students’ Social and Emotional Connectedness During Remote Learning

February 12, 2021 by Laura Buckner

This practical guide from Project Cal-Well focuses on flexible and feasible approaches to supporting social and emotional connectedness during remote learning. It provides information and resources about easy to implement strategies for educators, students, and families to stay connected and foster a sense of community within a virtual classroom. The guide includes strategies for educators to:

Promote students’ feelings of being welcomed as part of a community
Foster peer-to-peer connections and relationships through classroom activities and independent assignments
Regularly check in with students about their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing
Demonstrate flexibility, understanding, and willingness to communicate with students and their families

Family Engagement

June 13, 2020 by Laura Buckner

Family engagement is a fundamental element of any school improvement effort. The term describes behaviors and practices that can be supported in the school environment, such as:

Parent/guardian-child and parent/guardian-teacher communication practices
Parent/guardian roles and responsibilities in the home
Parent/guardian roles and responsibilities at school

This What Works Brief provides research-based strategies for schools to improve family engagement through thoughtful planning, mentoring, encouraging open communication, modeling high expectations, and more.

Developed through the California Safe and Supportive Schools (S3) Grant, What Works Briefs summarize best practices, strategies, and programs for improving school climate. Based on research and grounded in experience, each brief provides practical recommendations for school staff, families, and community members. They are organized into three sections:

Quick Wins: What Teachers and Adults Can Do Right Now
Universal Supports: Schoolwide Policies, Practices, and Programs
Targeted Supports: Intensive Supports for At-Risk Youth

A Community-Based Approach to Student and Family Well-Being

Family Engagement

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