National Visibility for our Family Communication Toolkit

By Cambria Russell, Senior Director of Programs

At a recent National Conference, I had the opportunity to present the Federation’s Welcoming Families Communication Toolkit—a project that has garnered significant attention and interest. 

The response to our presentation at the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) conference was overwhelming. Every seat was filled, and attendees were even sitting on the floor to gain access to this valuable tool. 

Since then, we have received inquiries from districts in other states interested in learning more about the toolkit and seeking professional development related to it. The toolkit has not only been shared throughout the Statewide Family Engagement Center (SFEC) network by our federal partners but is also featured in the resources of Ohio State University's SFEC. 

This toolkit is the brainchild of Rosalie Rippey, our Director of Communications, and Olga Lopez from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Its primary aim is to help educators and family engagement professionals reflect on and improve their current communication practices with families. 

The toolkit is designed to inspire and equip districts and schools with the resources needed to enhance their ongoing communication efforts. It comprises five comprehensive sections: 

• Listen: Emphasizes the importance of active listening to understand the needs and perspectives of families. 

• Welcome: Focuses on creating an inclusive and inviting environment for all families. 

• Include: Offers strategies to ensure that all families are actively involved and their voices are heard

• Craft: Provides guidance on creating clear, effective, and culturally responsive communications. 

• Plan: Helps schools and districts develop a strategic communication plan tailored to their specific needs. 

Within each section of the toolkit, users will find a variety of practical and concrete resources: 

• Activities: Designed to help educators and professionals develop their communication plans. 

• Idea Banks: A wealth of strategies that can be applied to improve communication with families. 

• Tools: Including translated templates, printable tip sheets, and further reading materials to support effective communication. 

The Welcoming Families Communication Toolkit is a testament to the collaborative relationship between FCSN and DESE. It is proving to be an invaluable resource for educators and family engagement professionals concerned with fostering effective and inclusive communication with families. As we continue to share and develop this toolkit, we look forward to seeing its positive impact on schools and districts nationwide. 

For those interested in exploring the toolkit further or arranging professional development sessions, please feel free to reach out to the federation’s family engagement initiative at sfecma@fcsn.org. 

Together, we can ensure that every family feels welcomed, heard, and included in their child's educational journey.