The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
March FINE Newsletter: Evaluation Exchange Sneak Preview
March 2008
Dear FINE Member,
In the last FINE newsletter, we told you about some exciting new developments at FINE and Harvard Family Research Project. In this month's newsletter, we share some of our new resources and offer a sneak preview of our upcoming issue of The Evaluation Exchange on Building the Future of Family Involvement.
The Evaluation Exchange issue and our other new resources place family involvement within a framework of complementary learning. A complementary learning approach integrates school and nonschool supports in an aligned and systemic way to promote educational success for all children and youth. Within this framework, family involvement reaches across settings and time, and plays many essential roles. Our new and upcoming resources illustrate these roles.
As always, the newsletter also features recent research and resources from the field. This month's new resources include a range of topics such as family involvement in out-of-school time, school–family–community partnerships, and English language learners.
New From FINE
- Evaluation Exchange Sneak Peek
Read a sneak peek of an article from the upcoming issue of The Evaluation Exchange on family involvement, due out later this spring. In the article, entitled “Building the Field,” Harvard Family Research Project talks to field leaders Kathy Hoover-Dempsey, M. Elena Lopez, Karen Mapp, Eva Patrikakou, and Sam Redding about the current state of the family involvement field and promising areas for future research.
- Building the Future of Family Involvement
The upcoming double issue of The Evaluation Exchange examines the current state and future directions for the family involvement field in research, policy, and practice. Featuring innovative initiatives, new evaluation approaches and findings, and interviews with field leaders, the issue is designed to spark conversation about where the field is today and where it needs to go in the future. To sign up to receive The Evaluation Exchange for free in print or online, visit our subscription center.
New From HFRP
- Complementary Learning in Action
As complementary learning takes root across the country, Complementary Learning in Action shares innovative examples and lessons learned from those initiatives. This series documents the ways that diverse cities, counties, and states are employing complementary learning approaches to serve children across ages and across settings. It highlights key themes and emerging strategies to help build knowledge and inform others in the field.
- Complementary Learning: Recommended and Related Reading
Designed as a resource for professionals from many backgrounds to learn about promising ideas and approaches in the field of complementary learning, this annotated bibliography compiles recent publications on complementary learning and related concepts, demonstrating a growing national momentum for connected nonschool supports. As part of HFRP's ongoing efforts to inform and facilitate dialogue, we will update the bibliography as new resources become available.
- After School Programs in the 21st Century
The latest Issues and Opportunities in Out-of-School Time Evaluation research brief draws on seminal research and evaluation studies to address two primary questions: (1) Does participation in after school programs make a difference, and if so, (2) what conditions are necessary to achieve positive results? The brief concludes with a set of questions to spur conversation about the evolving role of after school in efforts to expand time and opportunities for children and youth in the 21st century.
Articles and Reports
- “Family Valued”
The winter issue of Ed. Magazine, the magazine of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, features HFRP founder and director Heather Weiss. In an article about increasing family engagement in schools, Weiss talks about the evidence base supporting family involvement at all levels of schooling.
- Our Children
The February/March issue of the National PTA's Our Children magazine addresses the varied aspects of father and other male involvement in education in four articles. From general male involvement to more specific Latino father involvement in the PTA, the articles discuss the unique challenges that schools and men face in becoming involved as well as suggestions for overcoming those challenges.
- Promoting ELL Parental Involvement
A recent policy brief released by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice analyzes factors related to parent involvement among English Language Learners in the United States. The authors recommend a strength-based approach to building family involvement programs in ELL communities and encourage policymakers to support culturally relevant and nontraditional programs as well as community-based parent programs and appropriate teacher preparation.
- Limited English Proficient/Immigrant Families and Early Child Care
The Center for Law and Social Policy has published findings from a study of the state plans of Child Care and Development Block Grant recipients across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report includes a description of barriers that prevent children of immigrants from participating in quality early child care and education as well as recommendations for state policy makers to address such barriers.
- Out-of-School Activities and Family Meal Time
A recent brief from Child Trends highlights findings from a study funded by the National 4-H Council on effective ways to promote positive child and youth development. Findings suggest that out-of-school time activities and shared family mealtime play an important role in positive youth development, defined in this article by the Five C's: competence, confidence, connection, character, and character/compassion.
- Leveraging Community Resources
Another brief from Child Trends discusses the benefits that out-of-school time programs can gain from community partnerships. The brief offers suggestions for programs wishing to identify community resources. It also suggests partnership-building strategies, one of which is encouraging family involvement.
- Building New Relationships With Schools
Collaborative Communications Group and the Kettering Foundation recently released a report of findings from research on five organizations that work to connect schools and communities. Overall findings suggest that community-based organizations can help strengthen their communities' educational policy and practice schools through conversation-based engagement within their communities.
Websites and Tool Kits
- Building the Parent–Teacher Relationship
As part of Teacher Magazine's online “Ask the Mentor” series, Anne T. Henderson and Karen L. Mapp, co-authors of Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family–School Partnerships, will answer questions about how teachers can strengthen relationships with parents. Questions are currently being accepted at the link above. (Please note that you will need to register for free access to this resource.)
- Spanish Infant and Toddler Parent Education Handouts
Washington Learning Systems has released Spanish-language versions of their parent–child activity materials for children from birth to age 3 and the adults who care for them. The handouts contain 20 home and community activities related to early language and literacy development. The handouts are available for download on the WLS website through the Free Parent Education Handouts link.
- Public School Insights
This month marks the beginning of a new online community of public school educators, parents, and policy makers. The new Public School Insights website offers resources and space for community members to share ideas with each other, encouraging the exchange of successful practices in public education.
Upcoming Events
- Parents as Teachers Annual Conference
Parents as Teachers will host its 8th annual conference April 1–3 in St. Louis, Missouri. Practitioners in parent education, social service work, and early childhood care and education will share knowledge and resources related to a range of relevant topics, including school readiness, child mental health, and working with diverse families.
- National Network of Partnership Schools: District Leadership Institute
The NNPS will sponsor a 2-day workshop April 17–18 in Baltimore, Maryland. The workshop is intended for district facilitators who are or will be providing direct services to schools. Attendees will learn how to apply the NNPS research-based model to support schools in building sustainable family and community partnerships.
- What's Love Got to Do with It? The Heart of School Readiness and Success
The University of Pittsburgh will host the Annual Family Support Conference on June 4 in Pittsburgh. The conference, now in its 14th year, will bring together parents, practitioners, and researchers to share ideas related to school readiness and child academic outcomes.
- Child and Family Programs and Policy
Bridgewater State College, in conjunction with its School of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Social Work, will host a National Research Conference on Child and Family Programs and Policy in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, July 10–11. The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss promising research findings related to child and family programs, policy, preventive programs, and interventions.
Program Opportunity
- The PALMS Project
The PALMS (Postsecondary Access for Latino Middle-Grades Students) Project is inviting middle and high schools to join its Outreach Leaders Network during the 2008–2009 academic year. The network is a community of practitioners dedicated to helping Latino students pursue education beyond high school. Members use the PALMS Tools for Latino Family Outreach to develop school-based programs focused on this mission. Applications are due April 25.
Contact Us
If you experience a problem reading this newsletter or have questions and comments concerning our work, we would love to hear from you. Please send an email to fine@gse.harvard.edu.
Enjoy!
The FINE Team at Harvard Family Research Project