For Head Start staff working directly with families, there is more than one approach you can consider when using the FEM Toolkit. Where you start will depend on your relationship with a family, your own comfort in your role, and more.
Introduction to Family Economic Mobility
Use the Toolkit to build basic knowledge on economic mobility — by getting answers to questions such as "What is family economic mobility?" and "Why does it matter?"
This section supports you in deepening your understanding of how family economic mobility aligns with family well-being, strengths-based attitudes, and advancing equity. It provides tips on how to engage in conversations about financial and career goals with families.
FEM and the Family Partnership Process
Use the Toolkit as a guide for families’ journeys to financial stability — by learning how to build economic mobility foundations and concepts into the family partnership goal-setting process.
Effective conversations about economic mobility with families start with relationship-building, trust, and respect. You can use the Family Partnership Process to build on families’ strengths and set goals related to family economic mobility.
FEM Goal Areas and Resources
Use the Toolkit as a way to build your knowledge in goal areas — by exploring information, resources, and tools for planning and working with families on specific family economic mobility topics.
Partnering with families often means bringing information and tools to the table to help them work toward their goals. The FEM Toolkit allows you to quickly find information, resources, conversation cues, and ideas for action that can help you build your own understanding of family economic mobility topics. You can also use the Toolkit to identify specific resources that can help you partner with families in making progress toward their family economic mobility goals.
Last Updated: September 7, 2023