Directions: Complete this assessment adapted from the Center for the Study of Social Policy to evaluate the ways your program supports and strengthens families.

How the Program Values and Supports Parents 

1. The program encourages families to be active decision makers in their children’s education. 
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2. Staff recognize the central role of families in their child’s life.
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3. Staff get to know families. 
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4. Families have opportunities to volunteer and contribute to the program.
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5. Families have opportunities to share skills, talents and traditions with children and families in the program.
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6. Show appreciation to parents for participating in the program. 
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7. Staff recognize and value families’ contributions. 
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8. Staff are accepting and supportive of all families.
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9. Families have opportunities to engage in social activities, support groups, parent’s night out, etc.
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10. Families are connected to resources that help them explore different ways of parenting such as child development, parenting, and self-improvement conferences, workshops, or trainings. 
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11. Encourage parents to have input into decisions about the program. 
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How the Program Facilitates Friendships and Mutual Support

1. The program helps families set up formal and informal support mechanisms like phone trees, carpools, babysitting, play groups etc.
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2. The program connects parents who have same-age children, similar interests, and like circumstances, such as those who speak the same language.
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3. The program provides ways for parents to come together, meet new people, and enjoy a sense of community. Examples include: Periodic events like family fun nights, celebrations or graduations, field trips, cultural events, special events for dads, etc. 
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4. The program reaches out to isolated parents: Call or send a note home, personally invite them to activities, connect them with resources. 
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5. The program encourages parent-organized social and education events.
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6. The program offers opportunities for parents to talk to each other about parenting challenges, child development, child rearing expectations, sibling rivalry, work-family balance, etc. 
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How the Program Strengthens Parenting

1. The program makes information on parenting available to families in multiple languages.
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2. Staff are knowledgeable about child development, positive relationships, parenting styles, etc.
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3. Staff share parenting tips and discuss parenting issues with families. 
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4. The program connects families to resources to strengthen relationships between adults. 
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5. Staff learn about families’ expectations and respect their decisions about their child.   
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6. Staff reinforce positive parenting by recognizing and affirming positive parent child interactions.
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7. Information is provided on developmental challenges that families might experience with their child. 
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8. Physical discipline is not allowed in the program by staff or families. 
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9. Staff talk with families about developmentally appropriate guidance and reasonable expectations for children.
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10. Staff discuss parenting techniques with families in a respectful way and connect families with resources.
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11. The program shares information with families through books, brochures, opportunities for families to come together, postings on bulletin boards or newsletters, and take-home materials. 
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12. Staff encourage parents to discuss guidance challenges they may have at home. 
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13. Staff provide information about recognizing and reinforcing appropriate behavior and ways to respond to inappropriate behavior.
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How the Program Facilitates the Social & Emotional Development of Children   

1. Staff receive training on social emotional development, behavior, impact of trauma etc.
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2. The program shares information on social emotional development with families. 
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3. Staff model and coach families on how to interact positively with their children. 
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4. Staff encourage children to express their feelings.
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5. Staff encourage children to observe and listen to the feelings of others. 
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6. Staff encourage children to form friendships, use respectful language, and respect differences. 
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7. Staff help families understand social and emotional development by informing them of the importance of social and emotional development throughout childhood. 
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8. Staff share ideas with families about how to promote social and emotional development at home. 
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How the Program Links Families to Services and Opportunities 

1. The program develops family plans that identify their interests, skills and goals for themselves and their children and resources to support those goals. 
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2. Staff and families have access to information about services available in the community. 
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3. The program collaborates with other service providers to bring services on site, ease the referral process, share information and identify and fill gaps.  
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4. The program encourages families to share information about community resources.
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5. The program provides information on transitions to school, parent rights and responsibilities, and parent involvement.
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How the Program Responds to Family Crises 

1. Staff develop a personal relationship with each family.
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2. The program lets families know they can turn to staff in times of crisis by listening, showing concern, sharing some of your own personal concerns or desires. 
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3. The program provides families with information about services in the community such as shelters, food banks, mental health services, etc.
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4. Staff respond proactively to signs of parent or family distress by expressing concern and offering help. 
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5. Resources are made available to families in crisis, such as access to meals, transportation etc.
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6. Staff are trained and know how to respond appropriately to families in crisis.
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7. Staff receive support when working with families under stress. 
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