COMMUNITY OF CONNECTIONS IN A DIGITAL...

COMMUNITY OF CONNECTIONS IN A DIGITAL WORLD: HOW EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS CAN FOSTER RESILIENCE THROUGH SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.PRESENTER: LEXIE PALACIO M.A., COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE DIRECTOR –YMCA SAN DIEGO CHILDCARE RESOURCE SERVICES

2020 CMHACY – Changing Tides: Voices for Equality, Inclusion & Access

AGENDA

1). Review objectives

2). Overview of protective factors

3). Social connections as providers

4). Social connections with caregivers & families

5). Best practice family engagement strategies

6). Digital family engagement strategies & technology use in the ECE field

INTRODUCTION & ICEBREAKER

IMPORTANT OBJECT ACTIVITY:

TAKE SOMETHING THAT YOU CARRY WITH YOU THAT HAS MEANING TO YOU AND HOLD IT IN YOUR HANDS. YOU MAY CHOOSE ANY ITEM, EXCEPT YOUR CELL PHONE. HOLD IT AND THINK ABOUT THE MEANING FOR A MOMENT

IN THE CHAT:

• TELL US WHAT YOUR OBJECT?

• WHY YOU HAVE IT? OR WHAT IS ITS MEANING TO YOU?

3 | Community of Connections in a Digital World | YMCA of San Diego County 2020

POLL

LET’S TAKE A QUICK POLL TO SEE WHO WE HAVE WITH US TODAY!


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The learning objectives for this training are:

• Understand the Protective Factors and how they relate to working with caregivers and families from a Strengths Based perspective.

• Explore digital Family Engagement strategies.

• Discuss the value of Connections and Supportive Relationships with Peers.


HISTORY OF PROTECTIVE FACTORS

The Strengthening Families protective factor framework includes the following five protective factors:

• Parental Resilience

• Social Connections

• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

• Concrete Support in Times of Need

• Social and Emotional Competence of Children


The Pathway to Improved Outcomes for Children and Families

SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO BUILD PROTECTIVE FACTORS


EVERYDAY ACTIONS THAT HELP BUILD SOCIAL CONNECTIONS


Moving from Protective Factor to Strategy

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DEFINITIONS


• Family engagement is a family-centered, strength based approach to establishing and maintaining relationships with families and accomplishing change together.

HOLDING STRENGTHS BASED APPROACHES IN MIND

• Thinking about the families you work with, what are some of their strengths? They…

• Want what’s best for their child/children

• Are open to receiving resources

• Know their child’s strengths and needs (are the experts)

• Are resilient

• Have HOPE


WHAT DOES FAMILY ENGAGEMENTLOOK LIKE IN ECE PROGRAMS?

• Strengths-based

• Getting to know families- understanding their values, beliefs, culture, perspectives, etc.

• True partnership based on honor, respect and dignity; having shared goals for the child and working together to achieve them.


WHAT DOES FAMILY ENGAGEMENTLOOK LIKE IN ECE PROGRAMS?

• Shared decision-making process. Create regular opportunities to mutually share information about a child's learning and development.

• Setting expectations both ways.

• Ongoing, meaningful communication.


HOW DOES CULTURE/BIAS PLAY A ROLE WHEN WORKING WITH FAMILIES?

As we consider the work we do with families, ask yourself these questions:

1. How does culture impact Protective Factor’s in a family?

2. How does your own culture shape how you feel, how you react and what you say or think?

3. How does culture impact what you are teaching or how you work with families?


AS A PROVIDER, WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS IN ORDER TO DO THIS WORK?

Working with children, caregivers and families can be rewarding yet have it’s challenges.

• What kind of support are you currently receiving from your community/peers?

• What do you need from your community/peers to do this work?


PIVOTING POST COVID-19 TO SUPPORT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES

POLL AND DISCUSSION TIME


USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ECE FIELD

What does the research say?

• Technology and interactive media are here to stay.

• Young children live in a world of interactive media.

• They are growing up at ease with digital devices that are rapidly becoming the tools of the culture at home, at school, at work, and in the community.


USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ECE FIELD

• What are our own ideas and thoughts about technology use pre-COVID–19 and now?

• Cultural, Access and Equity Considerations

• Connection between Technology, Engaging Families and Protective Factors Social Connections.


VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CAFES

• What are Virtual Community Cafes?

• What are the guiding principles of Cafes?

• What are the benefits of a Virtual Community Café?


VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CAFÉ LOGISTICS

BEFORE:

1. Schedule virtual café – at least 2 weeks out

2. Determine registration method (Eventbrite, email, calendar appt).

3. Create a digital flyer for recruitment and send it out.



DURING:

1. Ideally, 3 staff will support (Host, Monitor & Tech Manager)

2. Introductions, review purpose & intention of café, review virtual conversation agreements & zoom meeting etiquette.

3. Conduct an icebreaker/check in with participants (Hopes for the cafe).

4. Review content, use questions to prompt discussion and support reflections.

5. Conduct a closing circle.

| Community of Connections in a Digital World | YMCA of San Diego County 202022


AFTER:

1. Hold a debrief with your team and reflect on how things went:

• What went well?• What could we do differently next

time/lessons learned?• Any participant needing follow up - who,

how, when• Follow up/next steps: survey, resources,

next café 2. Post café, email out resources to participants.3. Complete all data reports (# of attendees, survey results)4. Invite participants to next café.

| Community of Connections in a Digital World | YMCA of San Diego County 202024

ANY QUESTIONS?


RESOURCES

1. Center for the study of social policy -https://cssp.Org/our-work/project/strengthening-families/

2. Protective factors overview - *handout

3. Social connections – everyday actions -*handout

4. The alliance national parent partnership council (ANPPC) - *handout

5. Family engagement inventory -https://www.childwelfare.gov/fei/resources/

6. Children’s trust fund alliance -https://ctfalliance.Org/partnering-with-parents/anppc/#resources


THANK YOU!

LEXIE PALACIO EMAIL: [email protected]

COMMUNITY OF CONNECTIONS IN A DIGITAL...

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