Administrators of early care and education programs understand the importance of building relationships with families. However, they may not be aware the messages they communicate do not convey the message that family engagement is valued and encouraged. Administrators may also have challenges getting staff on board with building partnerships with families. Some administrators and staff may feel competent and have experience working with adults, others may be unsure where to begin. What families see, hear, and read from the time they first walk through the door to enroll their child, will set the tone for whether this will truly become an authentic partnership. This session explores strategies for helping administrators examine their role in building family partnerships.

Administrators of early care and education programs understand the importance of building relationships with families. However, they may not be aware the messages they communicate do not convey the message that family engagement is valued and encouraged. Administrators may also have challenges getting staff on board with building partnerships with families. Some administrators and staff may feel competent and have experience working with adults, others may be unsure where to begin. What families see, hear, and read from the time they first walk through the door to enroll their child, will set the tone for whether this will truly become an authentic partnership. This session explores strategies for helping administrators examine their role in building family partnerships.