Family, School & Community

Kinship Care: Innovative Practices to Support Growing Number of Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives

Larry Cooper, Chief of Prevention and Intervention Services, Children's Home Network

Target Audience: Administrators, Direct Service Providers, Directors, Family Support, Teachers: New, Teachers: Experienced, Training & Technical Staff

This workshop session offers participants the latest information and innovative practices to support infants and youth raised by grandparents and other relatives. This interactive session delivers learning through a Liberating Structures exercise, a short video documentary, and discussion with the audience. This session will promote new skills and knowledge time for audience interaction. Informative handouts and business cards will be provided, encouraging people to keep in touch!

Incorporating and Respecting Diverse Cultures with Family Engagement

Sara Langi, Family & Community Engagement Coordinator, and Mary Burris, Family & Community Engagement Coordinator, Pasco County Schools Early Childhood Programs

Target Audience: Administrators, Direct Service Providers, Directors, Family Support, Teachers: New, Teachers: Experienced, Training & Technical Staff

This session will provide attendees with an overview of cultural diversity and the importance of respecting and understanding families served, which will increase family engagement. Participants will have a chance to share current practices and learn new ideas. Also, an overview of cultural competence will be discussed. The SE Curriculum, Conscious Discipline, will be incorporated into the presentation and practical strategies to work with families.

Partners of Inclusion, Promoting and Reciprocating Resources

Audia Bradwell, State Child Care Resource and Referral TA Coordinator and Chelsea Markarian, Office of Early Learning/The Department of Education

Target Audience: Administrators, Director Service Providers, Directors, Family Support, Teachers: New, Teachers: Experienced, Training & Technical Staff

Child Care Resource Referral and Inclusion Networks serve Florida's diverse families and providers. For decades, we have engaged/connected millions of families to local, state, and federal resources & early intervention services. Through Inclusion, providers receive training on serving children with special needs, etc. Learn about the Office of Early Learning/DOE's partnership with Head Start and strategies to continue promoting and reciprocating our vital programs throughout Florida's communities.

One day at a time, Family Engagement with Early Head Start Families

Hely Martinez, Center Director, Margorie Olsen Early Head Start, and Bloncile Blackwell Center Director Family Service Worker, US Gibbs Center in Palm Bay

Target Audience: Administrators, Director Service Providers, Directors, Family Support, Teachers: New, Teachers: Experienced, Training & Technical Staff

The session will begin with an interactive ice-breaker that allows participants to experience the individuality of each person in the room when given a straightforward task. This will reinforce how individuals may have different perspectives and how personal experiences influence our views and how we perceive things. Our ability to recognize and respect differences makes it possible to create diverse and inclusive experiences for all families and children. The presenters will introduce the seven components of the Family and Community Engagement Framework and share skills and strategies for initiating a plan for family engagement throughout the year. Each element will be discussed and support with actual family events and participation. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in and explore a wide variety of activities and begin to select ways to implement the framework at their programs. Participants will brainstorm and share ideas for each component to create a mini-catalog of ideas for all. One day at a time, we build relationships that develop skills to support life long learning for children and families.

Teaching Character Education from a Father's Perspective

Patrick H Manuel, CEO, A Better Way Today, Inc.

Target Audience: Administrators, Directors, Family Support, Teachers: New, Teachers: Experienced

This interactive session will use hands-on activities, music, and group activities to encourage engagement. Participants will share from their own experiences and learn from each other through personal sharing and group activities. This session will provide strategies and techniques that fathers can use to promote children's learning and development by to teach their sons and daughters how to obey rules, respect. 

Turning Prospective Families into Enrolled Families

Douglas Solomon, Managing Partner, Early Education Ventures LLC

Target Audience: Administrators, Directors

This workshop will address the critical concerns of connecting and staying connected with prospective families during the entire enrollment process. Early childhood leaders will learn how to increase and retain their enrollment in the new reality of digital marketing. Leaders will understand how to efficiently utilize technology to identify prospective families and convert them into enrolled families.