Building Positive and Engaging Relationships with Families
Positive relationships are key to successful home visiting. Ultimately, more engagement helps parents support their child’s ongoing growth and development.
Relationship-based Practices
Relationship-based practices promote engagement with all families. When Head Start staff engage with a family, they form a relationship on behalf of the child. These practices are intended to guide what staff say and do with families to support open communication and promote better understanding.
Explore these resources to learn more about relationship-based practices and how to implement them in your work with families.
Essential Elements of Effective Mental Health Consultation
This webinar describes activities that an IECMH consultant engages in on behalf of children and families. Learn the essential elements of engagement that promote positive relationships to achieve better outcomes.
Planning for Successful Transitions for Children with Disabilities
This webinar provides information and strategies to support children with disabilities and their families through planned transitions.
Using the RBCs to Promote Family Well-being
Learn more about the concept of family well-being, the role of family services professionals and home visitors in supporting family well-being, and the systemic barriers to well-being that families face.
Respect Family Privacy and Confidentiality
Read these examples of respecting the privacy and confidentiality of families to strengthen relationships and trust. Then explore reflective questions to strengthen this practice.
Check In and Partner with Families
Explore examples of checking in and partnering with families to create and strengthen relationships, along with reflective questions to strengthen this practice.
Make Safety a Priority for Families and Self
Explore practical examples of addressing safety issues for families, children, and service providers. Then delve into reflective questions to strengthen this practice.
Develop Short- and Long-Term Well-Being Goals
Read examples of supporting families to develop specific short- and long-term goals for well-being, along with reflective questions to strengthen this practice.
Connect Families with Additional Supports
Explore these examples of connecting with other community organizations to help families access supports outside of Head Start. Then ask reflective questions to strengthen this practice.
Encouraging Conversations in Relationships
This video includes welcome messages from NCPFCE and OHS leadership. Using research from the Fred Rogers Center, Head Start program staff will learn strategies for developing foundational relationships.