Child Development Professional

Building a bond between school. Home

and the community.

Helping to create a cultural diverse

school and community that is
developmentally appropriate for
students ages 3-12

Support school, families and the

community.

Educate about the importance of

acceptance and involvement in school
and the community.

Building a Partnership

Research has been conducted that shows that when schools, families and communities come together to support
cultural diversity children thrive and develop and families feel more connected and supported. (Olson, 2007).
When this partner ship takes place the following will take place.

Communicatio
n and support.

Families feel
secure and
connected.

Children will
explore
different
cultures and
thrive
developmental
ly.

Healthy
children,
families and
communities.

The mesosystem, encompasses connections between

microsystems, such as home, school, neighborhood, and
child-care center. A childs academic progress depends not
just on activities that take place in classrooms but also on
parent involvement in school life and on the extent to which
academic learning is carried over into the home. (Berk,
2013). It is important for the development of the child for
family, school and the community to be on the same page to
support the child's development.

Subtitle

Joyce Epstein created a framework of

six types of parent involvement. This
framework will help parents, schools,
and communities work together to
create a developmentally appropriate
learning environment for children to
grow, learn and succeed. Her
framework also outlines the benefits to
implementing these partnerships.

Parenting

Help all families establish home environments

to support children as students.

Helps children respect parents, create a positive self

perspective, sets routines and family structure

Family support

Parent education

Community resources

Helps parents gain confidence in parenting skills,

gain support from the community and school.

Helps the school understand family culture and

background, gain respect for the family and
understanding of diversity. (Epstein, n.d.).

COMMUNICATING

Design effective forms of school-to-home and

school rules and school scheduling.

home-to-school communications about school

programs and children's progress.

Helps children improve grades, understanding of

Helps parents understand school rules, childs

Conferences, language translators, constant

progress and address problems in a timely

back and forth information.(Epstein, n.d.).

fashion.

Helps schools increase knowledge of diversity,

methods to communicate and understanding of
families views about programs.

VOLUNTEERING

Helps child build communication skills,

individualized attention, understanding of different

Recruit and organize parent help and support.

Volunteer programs

cultures and views.

Helps parents understand teachers, provides

comfort in the classroom and school environment

Surveys

Flexible schedules for events

and feeling valued

Helps schools involve families, understand the

diversity of families, support students as
individuals. .(Epstein, n.d.).

LEARNING AT HOME

Provide information and ideas to families about

homework and work independently.

how to help students at home with homework

and other curriculum-related activities,

decisions, and planning.(Epstein, n.d.).

Family fun nights at school

Helps children improve test scores, complete

Helps parents support their children, support the

teacher and understand how their child learns.

Helps schools respect families, create and plan

homework and activities that support individual

Summer learning activities

families and students.(Epstein, n.d.).

DECISION MAKING

Include parents in school decisions, developing

Helps children understand that their rights are

parent leaders and representatives.(Epstein,

protected, respect parents as having a part in

n.d.).

Parent committees and councils

making school decisions.

Helps parents belong, feel important and valued

create a support group outside of the school.

Parent support groups

Helps schools understand the views of parents

and value parents in the decision making process.

COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNTY

Identify and integrate resources and services

socially, understanding of career options and support in

from the community to strengthen school

social emotional development.

programs, family practices, and student learning

and development. (Epstein, n.d.).

Helps child increase skills both academically and

Helps parents understand what resources are available

within the community, social interactions and support

Community resources

Community out reach.

from the community.

Helps schools build relationships with community

programs that will support student development.
(Epstein, n.d.).

References

Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Epstein, J. (n.d.). Epstein's framework of six types of involvement. Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/lac/Joyce_L._Epstein_s_Framework_of_Six_Types_of_Involvement(2).pdf

Olson, M. (2007). Strengthening Families. Retrieved from NAEYC: http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200703/BTJOlson.pdf