The workshops in this area focus on building strong relationships with families and community partners in order to better support children and youth in the program. Examples include:

Building Relationships with Families
Using materials provided by Work Family Directions, this workshop examines attitudes toward parents, considers the role of positive communication, and discuss what parents want and need from caregivers. A brief overview of Ellen Galinsky’s Stages of Parenthood will be given and specific situations discussed. Participants will go home with some tips sheets and concrete ideas to help build skills.  Available Trainers: Anne Gleason and Julie Peterson

Collaborating with Community Partners
How do you get your program to utilize the many opportunities available in your community? By building community partnerships! This workshop will offer community service ideas for elementary and middle/high school youth, introduce ideas to utilize local resources, brainstorm ways of building relationships among local businesses, and provide successful examples of community partnerships. Your program will be enriched by inviting the community in!  Available Trainers: Rhonda Drake  and Michelle Bullock

Building Successful Relationships through Effective Communication
If you take the time to truly listen, you will be amazed and impressed at how much teens have to say. This workshop explores listening and communications techniques designed to get from “I don’t know” and “whatever.”  Available Trainer: MaryBeth Pinard-Brace

Effective Family Engagement
When families are involved and engaged in children’s lives in and out-of-school, kids are more successful. Sometimes, however, it isn’t easy for the adults working and supporting kids to bridge the communication gap and work effectively together to help kids succeed. This introductory workshop explores the difference between involvement and engagement, identifies practical communication strategies and explores common barriers to family engagement. Leave with some simple solutions and best practices to establish and ensure successful relationships with kids and families. This workshop can be taken alone or, for those interested in more in-depth engagement work and strategizing, as a pre-requisite for “Breaking Down Barriers ~ An In-depth Discussion and Action Plan for Engagement”. This workshop is suitable for after-school and out-of-school providers working with children and youth of all ages. Available Trainer: MaryBeth Pinard-Brace

Breaking Down Barriers: An In-Depth Discussion and Action Plan for Engagement
Understanding common barriers to effective communication and family engagement is just the beginning. It is necessary for individuals to assess what is impacting their ability to successfully engage and to develop personal strategies to ensure success. It is also critical to examine how the program itself and other outside influences factor into the Engagement Equation. This is a more advanced workshop intended as a follow-up to “Effective Family Engagement.” Leave with an action plan for building capacity for family engagement and action steps that are specific to your program. This workshop is intended for those who have already begun engagement work and is suitable for after-school and out-of-school providers working with children and youth of all ages. Pre-requisite: Effective Family Engagement.  Available Trainer: MaryBeth Pinard-Brace