Family Engagement During Difficult Times

When I was seven or eight years old, my mother asked me to accompany her to an event at our church. She was vague about it, but I remember it was around the holidays so I just assumed it was a Christmas- related treat which no child could refuse. As we arrived, there was a long line of somber-faced families waiting for brown paper bags full of food to get through the winter. Although we were grateful for the support, I could tell my mother was embarrassed and uneasy with the experience. 

Nonprofit professionals often forget the emotional toll families are facing during the COVID pandemic and constant school closings. They may unintentionally create an environment where the only role they play is one of a passive participant. Such an approach may evoke feelings of shame, inadequacy, or distrust, especially in families of color who have historically been marginalized. More than ever, we need to expand our vision of families as partners, where they are seen as valuable contributors to a child’s success. Families are key to creating the communities we all want not just recipients of services.  I hope this blog gives you some ideas to engage families in more meaningful ways, thus making us more effective.

Research demonstrating the impact of family engagement on youth outcomes is undeniable:

·       When parents are engaged in school day instruction, children are much more motivated and empowered to see themselves as capable readers and writers.[1]

·       Parents’ expectations for their children’s academic success predicted adolescents’ mathematical skills and enrollment in postsecondary education, functioning separately from the influence of teacher expectations.[2]

·       Specific to families of color, the findings from a national study of 3,248 parents suggest that school outreach efforts are particularly important in promoting historically disenfranchised parents’ involvement in the schools; and we know enhancing parenting self-efficacy is crucial for supporting their engagement at home.4 

Strategies for Engaging Families of Color

I recently spoke to Monique Fletcher, Client Engagement Associate, for Children’s Aid-National Center for Community Schools, and she talked about centering nonprofit work in culture, color, and consciousness. She said nonprofit professionals who work with families have to unpack their own thinking in order to ensure families of color feel welcomed and valued in a school or social service environment.

“Organizations sometimes take on a paternalistic perspective and expect parents to simply sit down and be quiet,” she said. “We need to creatively develop ways that communicate ‘we see you, we value you, we hear you and we want you here’. You can post pictures on the wall of the communities you serve, remember their names, make the space feel welcoming and listen to their ideas. And even in a post-COVID environment, we can continue to use cell phones and mobile devices to engage families in conversation and enriching activities. Because we know how important parents and caring adults are to youth development, we have to go the extra mile to make sure they understand we know they matter.”

Another colleague, Lorena Jimenez-Castro, Capacity Building Specialist, also shared how organizations can unintentionally disenfranchise working-class families of color: “Often, we have a prescribed way of working with parents. We set a time that works for us and just expect parents to attend. When I was working with parents, I would ask parents when they’re available, and what resources they need or would like to help me center engagement on their needs. We used to have raffles for necessary items like food and clothing in order to give them things in a way that wasn’t embarrassing for them and in a way that they were more willing to receive them. You can find creative ways to engage families as partners once you put yourself in their shoes.”

Great ideas! I wish I had both these colleagues when I was growing up. If you’re looking for more tips, tools, and practices for engaging families of color, check out the new update to DYCD’s Family Engagement Toolkit here.

May all that is beautiful, meaningful, and brings you joy be yours this holiday season.

[1] Simone, J., A. Hauptman,  & M. Hasty (2019), “Better Together on Behalf of Our Children,” The Reading Teacher, 73(3), 281–289, https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1825.

[2] Walker, J. M. T. (2016), “Realizing the American Dream: A Parent Education Program Designed to Increase Latino Family Engagement in Children’s Education,” Journal of Latinos and Education, 15(4), 344–357, https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2015.1134536.