Families are at the heart of your work as a child care provider.
When you build strong relationships with families, you’re better able to support learning and run a successful business.
Reflect
Self-reflection checklists can help guide you in creating goals related to connecting with families. Check out the checklist, Communicating with Families.
Take action
Sparkler is free for early childhood programs in CT. The app will help you support families through the developmental screening process, send tips to families, and more. Become a partner with Sparkler.
2-1-1: Connect families to a wide range of resources, like support for transportation, utility assistance, or mental health services. Search by region or category to connect families with what they need.
Visit 2-1-1 Child Development or call 800-505-7000 to connect with a care coordinator. They offer free, confidential support for children’s healthy growth and development, starting from pregnancy.
The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children is a positive behavioral intervention and support framework. Early childhood providers, caregivers, and families can use the model to promote young children’s social and emotional development and prevent and address challenging behavior. The Pyramid Model uses evidence-based practices and a public health approach. Learn more about CT Pyramid Model resources here.
Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS) Family Resources: The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) offers many resources you can share with families that are based on the CT ELDS. They can help you partner with families to support children’s learning and development.
Dive deeper
Check out some more resources to help you connect with families.
- Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) developmental screening: Help families understand their child’s development. They can complete the survey by paper, online, or through the Sparkler App.
- The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP) provides free consultation services for family child care and center-based programs working with children (from birth through preschool). Visit the ECCP website.
- Full, Equal and Equitable Partnerships with Families: Connecticut’s Definition and Framework for Family Engagement: Includes strategies for increasing the impact of your family engagement practices.
- Family Engagement in Action: This webpage from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers information for providers related to family engagement and resources for families.
- GEER Online Learning Hub: Access professional learning opportunities and videos about using technology to communicate and connect with families.
- The National Center on Pyramid Model Innovations’ website for Family Engagement: Check out valuable resources designed to help families with transitions and routines at home.
- The Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center: Learn about working with community partners to strengthen your partnerships with families.
Sample SMART Goals
Here are some sample SMART Goals that you can use to build your Elevate Program Plan for the Focus Area of Connect with Families.
Family Child Care Homes
- By ______________, I will research and introduce myself, staff and enrolled families to the SPARKLER App as a way to communicate with my families and support child development.
Centers and Group Homes
- By _________________, we will identify at least 2 new parent engagement opportunities, that we will pilot by the end of the year, we will aim for 75% participation by enrolled families to increase involvement by parents/families in their child’s learning experiences.
Our Service Navigators are experienced guides who can talk about your program’s needs and find ways to meet them. Connect with a Service Navigator.