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.
Innovative Approaches to Sustaining Family Engagement Programs (Ed.gov, 10/24/2011)
November 29, 2011
An article on ED.gov, the official website of the U.S. Department of Education, shares highlights from the Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) national conference, which took place in August 2011. Two months prior, the PIRCs learned that their program would not be funded beyond this fall, and this conference was designed to provide guidance as they begin to plan for a future without federal funding.
The national PIRC program provides federal funds to 62 organizations working to promote effective family engagement policies, programs, and activities that strengthen partnerships between parents, schools, and communities. The Parental Options and Information Office asked its contractor, the National PIRC Coordination Center, to convene the conference. The Center—comprised of SEDL, Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP), and the Miko Group—delivers support, technical assistance, and guidance to the PIRCs. HFRP offers technical assistance with a focus on evaluation approaches, strategic planning and leadership, and policy development and implementation.
Conference presenters offered lessons and strategies for sustaining organizations in the face of significant funding cuts. Topics included finding new ways to sustain work and spread best practices, maximizing resources, identifying and implementing practical funding models, and using evaluation data to drive greater impact and productivity. Heather Weiss, HFRP’s founder and director, led a discussion about the role of evaluation in supporting sustainability.
Read “Innovative Approaches to Sustaining Family Engagement Programs” on ED.gov.