PA-OST 9: Family Connections

Interpretation: Examples of ways to demonstrate implementation of this standard include, but are not limited to:

• Personnel and family members greet one another by name;
• Personnel use friendly voices, expressions, and gestures;
• Personnel and family members are relaxed and not abrupt with each other;
• Personnel and family members show interest in each other’s lives;
• Respect is shown to all without bias;
• Personnel communicate with families in a variety of ways;
• Personnel recognize that some cultures like direct communication, while others prefer indirect; and
• Personnel do not talk about confidential matters in front of children and youth or other adults.

Interpretation: Examples of ways to demonstrate implementation of this standard include, but are not limited to:

• Personnel welcome families whenever they visit;
• When possible, personnel interact with visiting family members;
• Personnel use newsletters and phone calls to remind family members that they are welcome to drop in;
• Personnel set aside time to tell new families all about the program;
• When a child or youth moves into a different part of the program (e.g., the summer program or a specialized program), personnel meet with families to discuss the change;
• Each family gets a copy of written policies, including the hours of operation, fees, subsidies, illness policy, etc.;
• Personnel send home notices and newsletters about program activities and events;
• Personnel follow up written notices with phone calls or personal contact;
• There is a bulletin board that displays information for families;
• Personnel ask families to comment on the program via notes, surveys, and meetings;
• The agency’s advisory group or governing body includes parent representatives;
• Personnel urge families to share their skills, hobbies, or family traditions;
• Personnel invite family members to special events (e.g., plays, field trips, picnics);
• Personnel respect different cultural styles and try a variety of ways to involve families;
• Whenever possible, personnel speak with families in their home language;
• Whenever possible, personnel offer orientation sessions in the home language of the families;
• If needed, personnel ask translators or interpreters to help communicate with families during individual and large-group meetings;
• Personnel avoid using children and youth as translators, if possible;
• Personnel provide information written in the family’s home language and literacy level;
• Written material is translated for families who do not speak or read the majority language;
• Notices and signs are written in the languages of the families of program participants; and
• The agency arranges transportation for special events and meetings.

Interpretation: Examples of ways to demonstrate implementation of this standard include, but are not limited to:

• Parents or guardians answer questions about a child’s or youth’s background and history;
• Families keep personnel informed of any major changes at home or at school;
• Personnel inform families in writing about injuries, accidents, illnesses, etc.;
• Personnel are happy to speak with parents or guardians about their children’s experiences in the program;
• Personnel and families meet to discuss children’s and youths’ behavior, health, friendships, accomplishments, etc.;
• Personnel and families discuss any concerns about a child’s or youth’s development, and children and youth are often included in these discussions;
• The agency arranges for experts to speak on a variety of topics (e.g., nutrition, child development, conflict resolution, etc.) and families are invited to attend these sessions;
• Personnel help parents form groups to discuss topics of interest to families;
• Personnel and families meet to define policies for handling sensitive topics (e.g., violence, racism, sexuality, substance use, etc.);
• Personnel inform families about available opportunities and resources (e.g., childcare subsidies, medical, counseling, and career services);
• Bulletin boards and newsletters contain information about upcoming community events (e.g., free dental screenings, fire-prevention seminars, and parenting classes);
• When needed, personnel are able to refer families to local agencies (e.g., health clinics, food programs, counseling services, language classes, crisis intervention, etc.); and
• Families are contacted immediately in case of emergency.

Interpretation: Examples of ways to demonstrate implementation of this standard include, but are not limited to:

• Family members can easily find children and youth and their possessions; and
• Conversations with family members do not take away from children and youth or their activities.