kristen todd-wurm middle country public library todd ... conference... · collections of books,...
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50% of parents read to their child(under 12) every day and an additional 26% do so a few times a week 94% of parents say libraries are important for their children and 79% describe libraries as “very
important.” That is especially true of parents of young children (those under 6), some 84% of whom describe libraries as very important.
84% of these parents who say libraries are important say a major reason they want their children to have
access to libraries is that libraries help inculcate their children’s love of reading and books.
81% say a major reason libraries are important is that libraries provide their children with information and resources not available at home.
The presence of a child or a grandchild in a family is the primary reason cited of parents who say their patronage of libraries has increased in the past five years.
http://libraries.pewinternet.org
http://www.bangthetable.com/what-is-community-engagement/
Family Support LI
Perceive and value the strengths and contributions
of families
Receive and integrate family input into the development of
practice, programs and policies
Engage families as equitable partners in
program planning, implementation and evaluation
Transform what we do based on what families
want, not what we have to offer
The Family Engagement Process . . .
Respect the integrity of
the family
Collaborate with families
Provide unbiased and
complete information to
families
Develop family-friendly
policies
Facilitate parent-to-
parent support
Build on family
strengths and respect
differences
Partner with agencies
that serve children and
families
So, How Do We Engage Parents?
Programs
Partnerships
Interactions
Types of Collaboration
EDUCATION/ CHILD CARE & RELATED
GROUPS
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICE
AGENCIES
STATE GOVERNMENT
CLUBS & CITIZEN’S GROUPS
LOCAL MEDIA
BUSINESSES &
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS
OTHER
Mom’s Night Out A program for parents and caregivers Create homemade learning games and toys to use with your children. We’ve created flannel boards, big books, musical instruments & travel games.
Mothers’ Center Operated by mothers, for mothers A place where mothers can learn and be listened to Provides companionship & a forum for exchanging ideas http://www.mom-mentum.org/
Baby Bump Program for first time moms
Each week you can create a simple craft for your new baby
Resource Professionals available to discuss topics related to pregnancy & infancy (breast feeding, infant massage, yoga, homemade baby food)
At the last session each mom-to-be will receive a goodie bag filled with free parenting materials, a book for your new baby, and ideas for play-based activities to do with babies
Collections of books, toys, music and multimedia materials for babies, toddlers, parents and service providers
A specially designed, welcoming Space within the children's area for families with young children
Parent/Child Workshop is a five week program that involves toddlers and their parents and caregivers; features local professionals who serve as resources for parents; emphasizes the role of parents as the first teachers of their children; facilitates early intervention; and teaches strategies for healthy child development and early literacy
Partnerships with community agencies that serve families and young children to connect parents to community resources and develop programs and services tailored to meet local needs
Outreach to new and non-traditional library users, especially parents and very young children (beginning at birth)
Developmentally appropriate programming for very young children and their parents
Library staff trained in family support, child development, parent education and best practices
Social worker from FSL provides family support in library locations
Individual consultations and referrals to health and human services to meet individual family needs
Services are free and confidential
A partnership between Family Service League and the Middle Country Public Library
Diverse population
Many parents in need of a GED
No child care to take classes
Pairing with a summer enrichment program
Ages 2 ½ -5 with parent or caregiver
Weekly Home Visit
Modeling use of toys, books and other learning materials
3 sessions- Librarian goes to the prison and talks with a group of incarcerated parents about the importance of reading and demonstrates tips.
Each participant selects a book, practices reading it aloud, and then is digitally recorded.
The prison mails the book and the CD recording to the inmate's child who now has the opportunity to enjoy parent read-aloud countless times as he builds his own reading skills.
Incarcerated parents given a library card upon release.
https://youtu.be/_kzdYIug-Ho
Validate & Welcome
Share Positive
Comment
Open brief informal
conversation Assess
responsiveness of parent
Provide empathy
& support
Extend open invitation
to library
Connect with Parents
Assess responsiveness
of parent
Validate & Welcome
Share Positive
Comment
Initiate informal
conversation CONSULT Conversations
Information Questions
INVOLVE Focus Groups
Surveys
Engage with Parents
EMPOWER Make them PART OF THE PROCESS!
PERSONAL ASSET INVENTORY, Asset Based Community Development Institute. Northwestern University www.abcdinstitute.org
What knowledge do you have in a particular area like child development, health care, psychology, history of the neighborhood…?
What physical skills do you possess that you would be willing to teach others?
What are your passions; what stirs you to action; what would you walk across hot coals for?
What important relationships and connections do you have in your own community and beyond?
HOME HEART
HAND HEAD
Creating a Gracious Space
“A spirit and a setting where we invite the ‘stranger’ and learn in public.”
Gracious Space is a simple yet powerful approach to working better together. Defined
as “a spirit and setting where we invite the ‘stranger’ and learn in public,” Gracious
Space creates an environment for being intentional, welcoming diverse opinions,
listening deeply and learning together. Gracious Space can move organizations and
communities forward, together, with deeper understanding and solid problem solving.
TAKE IT FORWARD TO YOUR WORKPLACE. . . .
Core Elements of Gracious Space:
Spirit: Create a supportive environment
Setting: A physical dimension that supports our work with
others.
Invite the ‘Stranger’: Intentionally seeking the “other”
Learn in Public: Let go and open up to possibility
In Gracious Space people listen more and judge less. They
suspend judgment and remain open to learning. In this space we
can work better across boundaries, share diverse perspectives,
work through conflict, discover transformative solutions and
carry out innovations for change.
http://ethicalleadership.org/programs/gracious-space
Workbook for Cultivating and Sustaining Community Change
http://ethicalleadership.org/publications/free-resources-1/publications-and-media-
1/CollectiveLeadershipFrameworkworkbook.pdf
Copyright - Center for Ethical Leadership www.ethicalleadership.org
When families are a meaningful part of developing their agenda, they will be more invested
in and accountable to the outcome.
The following standards, when applied, will help organizations effectively engage and support families
Strengthening Families – Utilizing a family engagement approach to support families to be strong, healthy,
and safe, thereby promoting their optimal development and recognizing their integral role in decisions that affect
them.
Embracing Diversity – Acknowledging and respecting the diversity of families, and creating an
organizational environment which embraces and celebrates different cultures.
Building Community – Constructing a vibrant community by elevating families through social connections,
development of their leadership skills, and maximizing resources through collaboration with other programs.
Organizational Culture and Reflection – Looking at areas of program strength, as well as opportunities
for further development, in order to guide continuous quality improvement and achieve positive results for
children and families (see Family Support Long Island, Family & Community Development and Engagement
Organizational Reflection Tool.)
ADAPTED FROM THE CALIFORNIA NETWORK OF FAMILY STRENGTHENING NETWORKS:
STANDARDS OF QUALITY FOR FAMILY STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORT, APRIL 2013
Angela M. Zimmerman, M.P.A.
Coordinator, Family Support Long Island
@ Molloy College
1000 Hempstead Avenue
P.O. Box 5002
Rockville Centre, New York 11571-5002
Phone: (516) 323-4723
E-Mail: [email protected]
Organizational Reflection Tool to Assess Family Support
Nurture the Soil