When starting a new project or initiative, it is a good idea to create a few goals to help guide your planning. Each new initiative or activity can then be aligned with one or more of the goals to ensure that every effort is focused and purposeful.

In the Early Childhood Family Engagement Framework Toolkit: Maryland’s Vision for Engaging Families with Young Children, the developers identified 7 goals for family engagement initiatives:

1. Family engagement initiatives should promote family well-being
2. Family engagement initiatives should promote positive parent – child relationships
3. Family engagement initiatives should support families as lifelong educators of their children
4. Family engagement initiatives should support the educational aspirations of parents and families
5. Family engagement initiatives should support families through the care and education transitions of early childhood
6. Family engagement initiatives should connect families to their peers and the community
7. Family engagement initiatives should support the development of families as leaders and advocates

To gather more information about these goals and meaningful ways to achieve them, access the MSDE Family Engagement Toolkit here.

For the main article on Planning for Family Engagement, CLICK HERE.
For the article on Why Focus on Family Engagement, CLICK HERE.
For the article on Family Engagement Reflection Tool for Staff, CLICK HERE.
For the article on Director’s Corner Family Engagement Competencies for Supervisors, CLICK HERE.