Families Matter

 

Few people doubt that families and parenting adults play central roles in young people’s learning and development.

  • Educators know that students learn better and are more motivated when their parents are involved and committed to supporting them in their learning pursuits.

  • Youth Leaders and Mentors recognize that parents and families are vital partners in helping young people achieve the stated goals of their programs, such as develop social-emotional strengths and life skills.

  • Social workers understand that helping kids develop and build resilience requires partnering with the parenting adults in their own development.

  • Mentoring programs see the family as a key partner with the mentor and staff in helping mentored children achieve their potential.

  • Faith leaders believe that faith and spirituality are best nurtured through an active partnership between the home and the church, mosque, synagogue, or temple.

  • Juvenile justice and child welfare systems recognize how difficult it is to get  kids and parents back on track and stable if the families are not connected to positive resources and supports in their communities.

 

 

 

The Challenge

 

 

 

 

The Challenge of Engaging Families

 

 

Yet, according to the Search Institute, across multiple sectors and settings, organizations struggle to engage and partner with families. Too many families are too busy or overwhelmed, uninterested, or simply unavailable and unable to be resources for their kids. In reality, dozens of challenges—including those that professionals identify and experience—make family engagement difficult. Some of the most difficult challenges are often overlooked, as shown in this list of barriers that can keep families from engaging:

Time

Schedule

Transportation

Childcare

Cost

Reframing Family Engagement

 

The Discovery Family Adventures approach family engagement, support, education, and empowerment through the twin lenses of strengths and relationships. These strategies are relevant across multiple sectors, as they start with families’ realities rather than organizational agendas. We believe that:

  • Tapping and nurturing families’ strengths—even in the midst of crisis and challenges—is a powerful path toward resilience, growth, and contribution. These strengths include the diverse cultures, experiences, and values that are integral to who families are and what matters to them.

 

  • Strengthening relationships within and around families is the foundation of trust, engagement, and active participation. Relationships within families tap families’ deepest longings.

The challenges and barriers to engaging families demand rethinking our approach to family engagement in schools and organizations.

 

 

 

How We Do It

 

My Discovery Destination! offers a growing number of resources and services to support schools and organizations in engaging families through relationships.

 

Resources for Engaging Families in Your Community

Keep Connected: Strengthening Parent-Youth Relationships in Middle School Families This research-centered, six-session (plus graduation) program gives parents and their middle school youth opportunities to explore how to strengthen their relationships through interactive activities and discussions. This two-generation family engagement resource is designed for groups of 6 to 12 families each time it is offered. To access this resource, participate in the two-day Keep Connected Institute for Strengthening Family Relationships. During the institute, you will:

  • Examine the underlying research, principles, and practices of relationship-based family engagement.
  • Experience and understand how to facilitate the interactive sessions for families (youth and parenting adults).
  • Identify strategies for inviting families to participate in the workshop series.
  • Learn how to tackle common challenges in organizing and facilitating youth and parent groups.

As a participant in the Keep Connected Institute, you’ll receive access to everything you need to organize and facilitate Keep Connected in your own school or organization, including detailed facilitator guides, reproducible handouts for parents (in English and Spanish), promotional materials, and tips and information for organizing and leading the workshops. Click here to learn more. 

 

 

 

How To Connect

 

Connect to the Discovery Family Adventures website

 

Connect to the Discovery App

 

Subscribe to the newsletter

 

Log in here to access your online materials. Strengthening Family Relationships: A Workshop for Parenting Adults Bring a Search Institute trainer to your organization or community to offer parenting adults an engaging two-hour workshop in which they identify and celebrate their family’s strengths and identify strategies for deepening their relationships. Relationships That Matter: 5 Keys to Helping Your Child Succeed Download this free 80-minute workshop facilitator’s guide to introduce families in your school or organization to the five keys to parent-child relationships from Search Institute. (Available in English and Spanish.)

Keep Connected Parent Resources

Encourage families to use our free online resources on relationships and strategies for helping kids grow up responsibly. (Or integrate these resources into your own programs.) It includes:

  • Check It: Brief quizzes for families to reflect on their family’s strengths and gaps.
  • Talk about It: Discussion starters for parents and kids together and for groups of parents.
  • Try It: Self-led family activities to explore each topic and spend meaningful time together.
  • Read about It: High-quality children’s picture books and discussion guides to prompt parent-child conversations on relationships.
  • Learn about It: Key background research for each topic.

 

Professional Development Resources for Family Engagement Leaders and Practitioners

In-Person Workshop—Engaging Families: A Relationships-Centered Approach Bring together family educators and family involvement leaders to examine the critical principles and practices for engaging families through relationships and to develop fresh strategies for connecting with, supporting, and engaging families through your school, organization, or coalition.
Ready-to-View Webinars on Family Engagement
View these archived Search Institute webinars to learn more about engaging families through relationships.

Sign up to be notified of upcoming webinars.

Books, Reports, and Other Resources

Current Projects

Learn about Search Institute’s current research and development initiatives focused on strengthening families and family relationships.