Development of the Family Partnership

Policy

All families will have the opportunity to participate in an ongoing family partnership and goal setting process. This process begins with the Strength and Needs Assessment, typically completed at intake. The assessment can be completed in the home, center, or community location depending upon parent preference. As part of the family partnership process, staff must offer parents the opportunity to develop a family goal which includes responsibilities, timelines and strategies for achieving these goals as well as documentation of follow up/actions (family contacts)

Benchmark

All families will have the opportunity to participate in the ongoing Family Partnership and goal setting process throughout their child’s enrollment.

Procedure

Family Partnership Plan Development

1. Staff will use the Strength and Needs Assessment to guide the discussion and develop goals or provide information and referrals based upon the family’s priorities. Ideally this will happen at intake or the first teacher home visit. If not, an additional contact will happen in a timely manner.
2. The Strength and Needs Assessement will be completed and scored initially at the beginning and again as additional assessments are completed. The scores from the Assessment will be documented in the Family Service domain/Family Outcomes tab.
3. The Family Support Coordinators (FSC) will support teachers in the completion of the Family Strength and Needs Assessment.
4. Staff will utilize Program Consultants, Coordinators and Specialists, the community resource poster, websites such as Lane 211, Lane Kids, ECKLC, HSOLC, and other Internet resources to make appropriate referrals and provide resources that address the family’s goals.
5. If the family is already working with another agency and has established goals or pre-existing plans, staff will support the family to continue working on those goals as part of their Head Start experience. A summary of the pre-existing agreement would will be entered as a Family Goal Event with affiliated actions in ChildPlus. A release of information signed by parent/guardian should be requested to facilitate information sharing with the agency. Document in Permissions section of Enrollment in ChildPlus.
6. Discussion during family contacts should include the family’s goals, needs and interests.
  1. Goals must include responsibilities, timelines, strategies and progress in achieving them.
  2. Staff may utilize the Family Partnership Agreement worksheet to plan with families. A copy can be provided to families as needed. A copy of the worksheet is not required in the electronic record.

Follow up Documentation Procedures

After the initial goal is completed the family will have the opportunity to develop new goals in continuation of the family partnership process.
As part of the family partnership process, information and referrals must be provided as requested and documented in the Family Service domain as events with affiliated actions (see Information and Referral policy). Additional details not requiring follow up (no action needed) will be documented as a note in the FS domain/FS Information tab.
When meeting dual language learners (DLL) families, interpreters will need to be scheduled first and in blocks of time that allow for multiple site coverage. Needs should be discussed in advance of the meeting time and staff should enter the home together to allow for optimal interpretation.
When clarification is needed in regards to management and documentation of caseload, teaching staff will consult with the Family Support Coordinator for support and Family Support Coordinators will access the Family Services consultant as needed

This policy complies with Head Start Performance Standard 45 CFR 1304.40 (a)(2)
It was approved by Policy Council on September 8, 1998. August 29, 2005. September 12, 2006. August 23, 2011. August 2014. February 2020
Updated July 18, 2000. July 8, 2002 May 30, 2003, August 18, 2003. August 12, 2005. June 2006. June 2007. June 2008. May 2009. August 2011. September 2012. July 2013. July 2014. January 2020