Promoting Families' Access to Basic Needs as a Family Engagement Strategy
Resource Description:
This WestEd School Turnaround Learning Community webinar explored the role of schools in supporting family functioning as part of a broader family engagement strategy. The session highlighted innovative programs at the district and state level to demonstrate how schools can leverage social safety net programs to increase families’ involvement in their children’s education and school improvement activities. It took a deep look at the issue of chronic early absence, its long-term impact on student outcomes, and the role schools can play in identifying and addressing family risk factors that can be barriers to children's regular attendance. The following questions were explored:
How does a lack of access to basic needs impact families' capacity to be involved in their children's development and school improvement?
What do we know from research on the root causes of chronic early absence; specifically, the link between student attendance and families' access to basic needs?
How can the use of attendance data help schools to identify the need for relevant community resources to support access to basic needs (afterschool programs/child care, health care and insurance, food and nutrition, affordable houseing, free tax preparation, and Earned Income Tax Credit outreach)?
What role can schools play in connecting families to social safety net programs that increase family functioning and promote engagement in children's development and school improvement activities?
The session also offered participants information on a broad range of programs and support services that schools can access directly or through greater collaboration with human services programs at the state level.
