Family Services Including: Family Partnership Plan, Goal Sheets, Family Assessment, Referrals

Family Strengths The strengths of the family are the elements most useful for helping families achieve their hopes for the future.

Family Strengths There are many types of family strengths. Some family strengths include: adaptability, cohesion, humor, willingness to try, and networks of support. Any provider will find strengths in all areas of family life including family interests and activities; extended family and friends; religious, spiritual or cultural beliefs; family values and rules; employment and education; emotional or psychological well- being; physical health and nutrition; shelter and safety; income or money; and family interaction.

You can become proficient at drawing out family strengths by: Believing that family strengths exist. Having conversations, not interviews, with the family. Talking with the family about everyday things and listening to their responses. Identifying and celebrating the family's successes.

Let’s find our family Strengths! Let’s reflect for a minute on the following question: What helps your family get through life's challenges?

Why family strengths? The strengths of the family are the elements most useful for helping families achieve their hopes for the future. Family strengths are factors that help families withstand stressors throughout the family life cycle. Increases resilience and resilience is the ability of an individual, or in this case a family, to use its strengths in order to positively meet life's challenges. It involves the family's ability to return to previous levels of functioning following a challenge or crisis.

Head Start Parent and Family Engagement Outcomes 1. FAMILY WELL-BEING Parents and families are safe, healthy, and have increased financial security. 2. POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS Beginning with transitions to parenthood, parents and families develop warm relationships that nurture their child’s learning and development. 3. FAMILIES AS LIFELONG EDUCATORS Parents and families observe, guide, promote, and participate in the everyday learning of their children at home, school, and in their communities. 4. FAMILIES AS LEARNERS Parents and families advance their own learning interests through education, training and other experiences that support their parenting, careers, and life goals. 5. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSITIONS Parents and families support and advocate for their child’s learning and development as they transition to new learning environments, including EHS to HS, EHS/HS to other early learning environments, and HS to kindergarten through elementary school. 6. FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO PEERS AND COMMUNITY Parents and families form connections with peers and mentors in formal or informal social networks that are supportive and/or educational and that enhance social well-being and community life. 7. FAMILIES AS ADVOCATES AND LEADERS Parents and families participate in leadership development, decision-making, program policy development, or in community and state organizing activities to improve children’s development and learning experiences.

How can you use the Head Start Parent and Family Engagement Outcome?

Prepare for Home visit 8-2-13

Step 1 Complete a child file review Did family qualify with McKinney Vento Act? Did child pass lead and TB questionnaires? Does child need a birth certificate? Did they qualify with a copy of the one from the hospital? Did child have a dental exam and physical exam? Does child need follow-up? Did they have cavities or a concern on the physical? Does child have all their immunizations? Does child have a high or low BMI? Did child pass quick screen, articulation screening—does a follow-up meeting need to be completed with parents?

Step Two Reflect after reviewing child’s folder…. Is it possible that the family will need referrals, reminders, health items completed or follow-ups on disability, medical, mental health nutritional, or dental?

Family Assessment 8-2-13

Step 3- Complete Family Assessment w/family during home visit. You can use either the MKV, Needs or Health items to create a GOAL. Must have a referral to back up goal Start with in-crisis items first. Review Assessment

Family Assessment Complete the assessment with families three times HS- Due by October 31st   EHS – Due by November 30th Assessment #2 HS- Due by January 30th EHS- Due by March 31st 3rd Assessment #3 HS- Due by April 30th EHS- Due by July 31st

INSTRUCTIONS: Complete this assessment using information obtained from the family, staff observation and knowledge, and/or other existing family plans. Strengths and needs identified should be used to develop family goals and as a basis for determining how support is provided for the family. This form highlights strengths, needs, and capabilities commonly noted when working with families. This family assessment should be individually tailored by adding observations and other information that pertain to the uniqueness of the family. The Level should represent the family’s current status as closely as possible. Placement of one item in an area places family at this level. Head Start Children will have one assessment if their entry date is after March 1st Children will have two assessments if their entry date is after October 31st Children will have three assessments if their entry date is on or before October 31st Early Head Start Children will have one assessment if their entry date is after June 1st Children will have two assessments if their entry date is after November 31st Children will have three assessments if their entry date is on or before November 30th

Family Assessment The level should represent the family’s current status as closely as possible. Placement of one item in an area places family at this level. T= Thriving ST=Stable S=Safe A= At Risk I= In Crisis Enter into child plus as an assessment.

Enter into Child Plus Go to express entry Click Assessment On bottom of page; Pick FPA as instrument Assessment period will be 1st ,2nd , or 3rd depending on which assessment was completed. Pick a child to enter assessment data Under Rating place the number and rating level that the child scored with each item. Place individuals name who completed assessment with family as the assessor Place date assessment was completed Check if assessment is completed

Family Goals 8-2-13

Develop Goal Sheet Family only has to have 1 goal Goal sheet MUST be completely filled out

Must have a date in the timeline Make a copy for parent

Don’t forget the bottom of the Goals sheet Resources Remember this is for the parents to remember their Goal!

Goals should have a referral Provide referrals with greatest need first Start with items that fall at the I (in-crisis) level. Use referral form in packet– you can use additional forms as needed

Create goal and referrals for each area. Break out into 16 groups and each group will get an area to create a goal and referrals for that area. Education & Literacy (Adults) Employment Housing Transportation Family Finances Child Care Parenting Skills Family Wellness (Adults and Children) Community/Family Supports

Enter FPA in Child Plus Family Services Family Services Information-Scroll to Bottom Needs Assessment = Family Assessment Completed – yes Date – date completed Valid Until – HS (May 31) EHS (Aug 31) Needs Services – mark according to answers Received Agency Social Services – mark according to answers (has the family has received any agency services i.e WIC, Housing, SPARTAN, Weatherization, Utility Assistance, CHAMPS, CCS, Workforce, Family Planning, CLASS, Health Services/Home Health Additional Community Services Needed – mark according to answers (does the family need additional services outside of SPCAA) Referred to Another Agency – did you refer the family to an any agency for services.

In family goal setting process-yes or no Family Partnership Agreement-Yes Effective dates-date completed to End of school Family Partnership Notes- “SEE Family Progress Contact Note” Family Services Events

Note must contain Follow Up to MKV, Enrollment Need, Health items (if not Goal) Strengths (identified by family and on Family Assessment as T, ST or S ) Family Goal & Objectives

Referral Form (Two referrals are on each page)

Each referral must be an ACTION

Change the same referral once more information has been received.