Family Connections

Materials

The Family Connections materials provide staff with information, learning opportunities, and a description of the crucial ways programs can better understand and respond to the needs of children and families. These resources are designed to promote the professional skills of Self Reflection, Self-Care and Perspective Taking.

Introduction to the Family Connections Materials
This guide provides a description of the Family Connections materials and approach.

The Family Connections Readiness Guide
This guide presents information and processes focused on assessing a program's level of "readiness" to engage in the kind of work involved in reaching out to families facing adversity. This section is geared to directors who may interested but are unsure of whether they want to make the commitment to this program as well as those who want to take the first steps into the work.

Lessons Learned
This section discusses the lessons learned in transporting Family Connections from its original pilot site to other Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The emphasis is on important issues to consider in beginning the process of staff change and considers the commitment involved in taking on the goal of better outreach.

Training Modules
This section includes an extensive group of training materials organized into modules and infused with guidance for the person designated as the Workshop Leader. The modules themselves contain directions for presenting the specific trainings in each group, the hand-out information required for those trainings, and the questionnaires designed to receive feedback on each training effort.

Short Papers for Staff
These short papers are designed to share information on topics that are central to understanding depression, resilience and best practice in engaging parents facing adversities. They are intended to work as stand-alone items for parents and staff as well as materials used in training workshops and parent groups.

Short Papers for Parents
These short papers are parent resources designed to share information on topics that are central to understanding depression, resilience and strategies for facing adversities.