Example 4

Parent, Family, and Community Engagement: PFCE/Community Job Losses

SCENARIO

Community Assessment and Ongoing Community Engagement
In their annual update of their community assessment, All of Us Together, Inc., learned that two of the largest employers in the community will be closing. This may affect more than half the families in the program. Knowing this will have different impacts on families as they deal with stresses related to unemployment, staff wanted to know, "How can we make a positive difference for our families during this time of change?" A planning committee involving staff, members of the governing body, family members, and community partners was formed. The committee developed and asked all enrolled families to complete a survey about family well-being. The staff aggregated data from the survey and found that families were already feeling a high level of anxiety about the impending layoffs, including wanting to know how to best support their children.

Planning Update
The collected program data assisted staff in looking at ways they could support parents to connect with community resources for alleviating anxiety and finding other options for job opportunities throughout the five-year project period.

During Ongoing Monitoring and Continuous Program Improvement
Staff compared the new information about family well-being to other previously reviewed sources to develop the following goal, objectives, expected outcomes, data for tracking progress, expected challenges, and action plan.

Program Goal
All of Us Together will partner with families and work with community partners to support families' progress toward improved well-being and stronger financial stability. We will pay special attention to the families impacted by the job loss and the changes that these families will experience over the next two to five years as a result of the job loss.

This goal is tied to the Family Well-Being Family Engagement Outcome of the PFCE Framework.

Family well-being: Families are safe, healthy, have opportunities for educational advancement and economic mobility, and have access to physical and mental health services, housing and food assistance, and other family support services.

Expected Challenges
Special effort may be required to motivate parents to participate and stay engaged in the job cross-training and apprenticeships. Parent may likewise require support to be ready to fill positions as they become available.

Table 4.6. Example 4 – All of Us Together, Inc., Objectives, Expected Outcomes, and Data, Tools, and Methods (PFCE/Community Job Losses)

Objective and Connection to the PFCE Framework	Expected Outcomes	Data, Tools, or Methods for Tracking Progress
Develop MOUs with no fewer than five key community partners that have the capacity to offer job cross-training and apprenticeships by the end of year one of the five-year project period. Program impact areas: community partnerships	Parents who experience job loss will re-enter the workforce resulting in families being more financially stable.	Signed MOU agreements Meeting agendas and minutes Parent interviews and focus groups PIR data on employment
Within one month of the start of the program year and continuing throughout the program year, ensure that 100 percent of parents have information about support services available in the community (including mental health counseling, treatment for substance use, and job training) to better cope with job loss. Program foundation: continuous program improvement Program impact areas: family partnerships, community partnerships Outcomes: family well-being, connection to peers and community, parents as learners, parents in transition, parents as advocates and leaders	Families will access community-based support services that provide them with increased stability.	Parent meeting attendance, agendas, and minutes Copies of flyers and brochures distributed via parent meetings and through “cubby conversations” Job and health fair promotional material Family pre- and post- satisfaction survey Case management notes Parent interviews and focus groups PIR data on provided or referred community services
Within one month of the start of the program year and continuing throughout the program year, ensure that 100 percent of classroom, family services, and enrollment staff know about resources available in the community to help support families experiencing these stressors. Program impact areas: family partnerships, community partnerships Outcomes: family well-being, connection to peers and community	Program staff and community-based organizations will increase their understanding of the needs of families that experience job loss.	Staff training sign-in sheets, agendas, and notes Program training calendar Coaching and reflective supervision agendas or outlines Professional development plans and files Community partner surveys
By year two of the five-year project period, deliver training in mental health consultation, reflective practice, and supervision to 100 percent of classroom, family services, and enrollment staff to ensure that staff have a better understanding of how job loss and job transition influence stress and can lead to health issues such as depression and anxiety as well as substance use disorders. Program foundations: professional development	Parents who are impacted by mental health issues related to job loss will receive intervention services that will reduce the negative impact of the job loss.	Staff training sign-in sheets, agendas, and notes Program training calendar Coaching and reflective supervision agendas or outlines Professional development plans and files Family pre- and post- satisfaction surveys Parent interviews

Table 4.7. Example 4 – All of Us Together Action Plan (PFCE/Community Job Losses)

Action/Strategy	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline	Financial Supports
Facilitate a working group (inclusive of community organizations) to create a standardized MOU template that is specific to job training, including apprenticeships.	Head Start operations manager	Immediately–one month	Cost of space for meeting Meeting materials Food/coffee estimated at $250
Meet with community college, State Department of Labor, and other workforce development entities to obtain signed MOUs.	Head Start director	Months two to three and ongoing thereafter	Travel costs estimated at $100
Place a resource list on our agency website of support services available in the community. Update no less than quarterly.	Family services manager and I/T manager	Months one to six and ongoing thereafter	Funds for increased website capacity estimated at $1,500
Create a brochure listing support services available in the community.	Management team	Month two and ongoing thereafter	Translation services, printing estimated at $5,000
Distribute resources brochure to each family applying for services.	Family services staff	Month two and ongoing thereafter	Translation costs $800
Distribute resources brochure to each family applying for services.	ERSEA staff	Month two and ongoing thereafter
Deliver training in mental health consultation, reflective practice, and supervision.	Management team	Annually during pre-service, and as part of new employee orientation	Trainers, materials, classroom substitutes, and training space rental estimated at $500
Research funding sources and implement a system to support short-term financial needs of families experiencing job loss.	Head Start director	Year two and ongoing thereafter	Costs for meetings, developing materials, staff training estimated at $500

Engaging families and key stakeholders in the goals-setting process supported the implementation of the action plan by ensuring shared responsibility and support throughout the process. As part of ongoing communication with the Regional Office, the program also engaged in regular discussions about the program's progress toward this and other program goals. The program stayed in close contact with its training and technical assistance provider to discuss its ongoing planning and to identify or access training and resources to implement its plan to support family well-being.

Question Mark Icon How will these examples inform your program goals, action plans, and tracking procedures?

While engaging with families and community partners to achieve its goal, the program continues to be intentional about documenting all activities put in place (measure of efforts) and capturing the changes observed and reported by parents (measure of effect) while tracking progress, reviewing steps, making needed improvements, and monitoring progress toward supporting the well-being of families in this time of transition.

Topic 4 described how four typical programs integrate goals, expected outcomes, and action plans into their planning process. The first example focused on strengthening children's transitions to kindergarten. The second outlined an initiative that promotes language and literacy development for preschool children. The third used a health-related goal to maximize children's learning opportunities. The fourth explored ways that programs partner with families to make progress toward family well-being. As you read these planning scenarios, did you think about your own program? Of course, the specifics differ, but there are lessons to be learned from someone else's experience.

Foundations for Excellence: A Guide for Five-Year Planning and Continuous Improvement, 2^nd Edition, offers us a shared vocabulary and toolbox of strategies that will support your program's strategic planning. Build on these ideas with other stakeholders in your program and your community partners. Through communication and collaboration we benefit from diverse points of view and together we realize our shared mission of building responsive, empowering programs for children and their families.

Goal Setting, Program Planning Systems

, Program Planning

Resource Type: Article

National Centers: Program Management and Fiscal Operations

Audience: Directors and Managers

Last Updated: August 8, 2023