How Well: % of families that participate in additional training in family engagement/behavioral management (unduplicated) - Annual
Current Value
80%
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
This year presented a greater challenge to staff in terms of having parents and families who were willing and able to engage in their in-depth parenting programming. One identified issue was scheduling as related to parents that worked more than one job (making scheduling in-home sessions very difficult despite staff flexibility). Many of the families that are engaging in one or more parenting classes, programs or events through the BEST program are struggling to be financially stable and cannot afford to take time off from work or miss scheduled shifts of either a primary or secondary job to accommodate the in-home component of the program. A second issue was related to families impacted by incarceration where an incarcerated parent completed a full parenting program inside the detention center but the family caring for the child (or children) in the community was unwilling to engage with that parent upon their release. Sometimes this was due to issues or concerns regarding child safety, conflicts with existing custody agreements, etc. While the parenting program inside the jails is incredibly successful, being able to engage with the family in the community can be hit-or-miss depending on a myriad of factors around that child and their legal guardians/caregivers that are outside the control and purview of this program. Finally, while we are reaching an increasing number of Hispanic families through community-based parenting classes and programs, given the current climate around immigration in the US, many of these families are afraid to have workers inside their homes and/or to provide additional information on their families for fear that they may be targeted.
Partners
- AACC Teach Institute & Parenting Center
- Ordnance Road Detention Center
- Jennifer Road Correctional Facility
- A.A. Co. Public Libraries
- Behavioral Health providers (in and outside facilities)
- Judy Centers
- Chrysalis House
- Centro de Ayuda
What Works
- Continued, consistent outreach to families to clarify the scope of the services
- Flexible scheduling to accommodate family needs
- Bi-lingual facilitators who can communicate in the parents' native language
- Continued outreach to families of incarcerated parents to facilitate family reintegration where possible
Action Plan
- Facilitators are exploring with AACC permission to provide sessions traditionally held in the home in a neutral community location to help immigrant families feel more secure in accessing services
- Information sessions for families of incarcerated parents will be held several times during the year during other in-house programming where contact visits occur (ex. Open Book program) to engage community-based parents/caregivers in additional classes/programming