Family Engagement

“All About Me” template

This fillable “All About Me” template from FFF gives families and students a simple way to share critical information with teachers, staff and others who can benefit from the essential key facts about a child or youth.

This was shared as part of our “Just So You Know… Strategies for Nontraditional Families to Share Their Information with Schools” training. It can be used by any family or student.

  • Document, “All About Me” template

    Fill in the blanks

  • PDF, “All About Me” template

    Instructions

  • PDF, “All About Me” template

    Sample completed All About Me


Promoting Equity in Education Through Family Engagement video

This 9.5 minute video is designed for school personnel and families. It offers an overview of education equity and suggests strategies for facilitating greater educational equity through meaningful family engagement practices. The video features the voices and lived experiences of students, parents and caregivers, and school leaders. Strategies are organized by key components of family engagement in  multitiered systems of supports.

The video has captions available in English and Spanish.

A fact sheet accompanies the video.

The video is produced by Formed Families Forward in our role as family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) project.

  • Video, Promoting Equity in Education Through Family Engagement video

    VIDEO with English and Spanish captions

  • PDF, Promoting Equity in Education Through Family Engagement video

    Promoting Equity through Family Engagement Video FACT SHEET

  • Website, Promoting Equity in Education Through Family Engagement video

    Feedback survey. Tell us what you think!


Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

Designed for family members, this 10 minute video explains the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) and offers concrete tips and strategies to engage with school partners more effectively. The video features family members and school staff from around Virginia, sharing their own lived experiences and suggestions for building stronger connections between families and educators to improve outcomes for all students.  A fact sheet accompanies the video. Spanish and Arabic captions are available via YouTube settings.

We welcome your feedback on the video at https://tinyurl.com/yah2542o .

  • Video, Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

    Family Engagement video link

  • Document, Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

    Accessible video transcript

  • PDF, Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

    Fact Sheet to Accompany Family Engagement with Schools video

  • PDF, Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

    ARABIC Video fact sheet

  • Document, Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

    SPANISH Video Fact Sheet, accessible Word format

  • Website, Family Engagement with Schools: Strategies to Build Partnerships Video

    Feedback Survey; Tell us what you think!


Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

This series of videos features six key elements to engage families in Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS). Designed for use by educators and families, the three videos highlight specific strategies for school teams to consider as they build momentum around family-school partnerships and strengthen skills to meaningfully engage families in multi-tiered systems.

Spanish and Arabic captions are available via YouTube settings. A fact sheet accompanies the videos.

Produced by Formed Families Forward, family partner to the VTSS project, in conjunction with Atom Stream Communications, LLC.

  • Video, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    Link to Videos

  • PDF, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    Fact Sheet to accompany videos

  • Document, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    Accessible Fact Sheet to accompany videos

  • PDF, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    Video 1 transcript

  • PDF, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    Video 2 transcript

  • PDF, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    Video 3 transcript

  • Document, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    SPANISH Fact Sheet, in accessible Word format

  • PDF, Strengthening Family Engagement in VTSS videos

    ARABIC Fact Sheet


Family Engagement at Safe and Supportive Schools Conference

Slides used at the March 19, 2019 VDOE  Safe and Supportive Schools Conference in Williamsburg.

  • PPT, Family Engagement at Safe and Supportive Schools Conference


Together is Better: Building Collaborative Relationships with School Staff webinar
September 26, 2024

This webinar broadcast live on September 26, 2024, addressed ways that foster, adoptive and kinship families can build collaborative relationships with teachers and school staff.

Presented by Stacia Stribling, PhD, Deputy Director of Formed Families Forward.

  • Webinar, Together is Better: Building Collaborative Relationships with School Staff webinar

    Recording of Webinar

  • PDF, Together is Better: Building Collaborative Relationships with School Staff webinar

    Presentation slides


Family Engagement vs. Family Involvement
April 01, 2024

This FFF image distinquishes family engagement from family involvement approaches.

  • Document, Family Engagement vs. Family Involvement


Transitioning to Adulthood: Options and Resources from Panel Experts webinar
March 06, 2024

Broadcast live on March 6, 2024, this web panel of experts focused on post-secondary options for young adults with disabilities that impact behavioral health.

Three panelists from Breakthru Services, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia shared information on skill building services, the basics of eligibility for DARS post-high school services, as well as targeted supports available for young adults with mental health and neurobehavioral needs and other conditions which present challenges to traditional post-secondary education, training and employment options.

  • Video, Transitioning to Adulthood: Options and Resources from Panel Experts webinar

    Panel webinar recording


Family Members on Teams video & factsheet

This 9 minute Family Members on Teams video was produced by Formed Families Forward, as family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) project. The video features a staged meeting and interviews with family members and educators sharing practical suggestions for including family members on decision-making teams. The accompanying fact sheet overviews the strategies shared in the video.

Let us know what you think of the video HERE. 

  • Video, Family Members on Teams video & factsheet

    Family Members on Teams video

  • Factsheet, Family Members on Teams video & factsheet

    Family Members on Teams fact sheet


Paving the Way to College and Careers: Families and Schools Together curriculum

This progressive, 9th-12th grade curriculum, offers high school counselors with five, 1.5 hour lessons they can deliver to parents/students to help them get ready for college/careers. The lessons are structured to achieve five main goals: 1) Strengthen the parent/student relationship by providing a safe and structured space for dialogue; 2) Establish a strong connection between parents/students with their high school counselors; 3) Increase student/family knowledge of the academic and developmental milestones they will encounter in high school;  4) Develop skills and strategies necessary to be on track for a post-secondary education/career; and 5) Successfully complete a PSAT/PLAN, SAT/ACT, FAFSA, and college/technical education application or job application.

  • Website, Paving the Way to College and Careers: Families and Schools Together curriculum

    Paving the Way webpage


Military Families with Disabilities Resources
October 02, 2023

This page on the Center for Family Involvement website offers links to video and print resources designed for Virginia military-connected families who are raising children and youth wtih disabilities. Additional resources from Formed Families Forward and PEATC are also linked.

  • Website, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Military Family Resources

  • Video, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Mental Wellness and Trauma-Informed Practices in Military Families video from FFF

  • Factsheet, Military Families with Disabilities Resources

    Turning 18 in Military Families fact sheet from PEATC


LGBTQ family resources

A collection of linked resources for families raising LGBTQ+ children, youth and young adults, and professionals and communities who support them.

  • Document, LGBTQ family resources

    FFF Building LGBTQ Awareness and Acceptance webinar training and related resources

  • Website, LGBTQ family resources

    Family Acceptance Project LGBTQ Youth and Family resources

  • Website, LGBTQ family resources

    The Trevor Project

  • Website, LGBTQ family resources

    The National Center for Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression (The National SOGIE Center)


Fact Sheets on Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success
June 01, 2023

In March of 2023, the U.S. Department of Education released Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates for students and school staff, featuring specific recommendations for evidence-based practices that allow students to learn, grow, and be successful. To enhance state and local implementation of these guiding principles, a collaborative of technical assistance centers serving the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools developed a series of four fact sheets. The series describes best practices and approaches to help support and respond to students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs, including practices designed to reduce the use of exclusionary discipline in schools.

Each fact sheet is tailored to a specific audience at the school or district level:

  • school and district leaders
  • student support teams
  • educators and school-based staff
  • families

The fact sheets also feature resources to help support stakeholders in this important work.

Fact sheets are available in English and Spanish.

  • Website, Fact Sheets on Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success

    Links to 4 Fact Sheets for different audiences, in English and Spanish


Educate, Collaborate, and Engage with Family Members throughout the Transition Process fact sheet
November 01, 2022

From VCU’s Center on Transitions Innovation, this brief factsheet covers strategies for educating, collaborating and engaging families of transition-age youth and young adults with disabilities.

  • Factsheet, Educate, Collaborate, and Engage with Family Members throughout the Transition Process fact sheet

    Transition Process fact sheet


Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

Shared in 2022, these resources from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services offers youth and families great tools for planning for key medical, housing, social, educational and other supports as youth enter young adulthood.

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement fill-in document

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    How to fill out the Virginia Supported Decision Making Agreement document

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Virginia Supported Decision Making Discovery Tool

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Virginia Supported Decision Making Relationship Map

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Plain language authorization for education release of information

  • Worksheet, Supported Decision Making resources from Va DBHDS

    Plain language authorization for medical release of information


IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care
April 04, 2022

A product of the WAZE to Adulthood project, developed by Formed Families Forward. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.

Designed for parents, caregivers, professional partners and others.

  • Factsheet, IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care


3 Tips to Improve Communication with Your Youth & Young Adults tip sheet

This tip sheet provides parents and allies of youth and young adults with lived experience of a mental health condition tips be able to improve their connection with them. This tip sheet was developed as a collaboration between the family member and young adult advisory boards that work with the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research at University of Massachusetts. The tips are based on advisory board members’ real experiences.

  • Factsheet, 3 Tips to Improve Communication with Your Youth & Young Adults tip sheet


Who’s on the IEP Team resources

From the WAZE to Adulthood project at PEATC, these fact sheets support parents/caregivers and students in understanding all roles and the members of an IEP team.

  • Factsheet, Who’s on the IEP Team resources

    Who is on My IEP visual for students

  • Factsheet, Who’s on the IEP Team resources

    Who is on my IEP team fact sheet for students

  • Factsheet, Who’s on the IEP Team resources

    Roles around the IEP Table sheet for parents/caregivers


Charting the LifeCourse

Charting the LifeCourse is designed to be used for individuals with disabilities, family members, or in the work individuals do. The framework and tools will help organize ideas, vision, and goals, as well as problem-solve, navigate, and advocate for supports. The LifeCourse Nexus website provides links to resources and information for individuals, families and professionals, including e-learning modules.

  • Website, Charting the LifeCourse

    Charting the LifeCourse Tools website


Supported Decision Making Library

From The Arc of Northern Virginia, a collection of resources on supported decision making, an array of services and procedures to support adults with disabilities into adulthood, often as an alternative to Guardianship.

  • Website, Supported Decision Making Library

    Supported Decision Making resources


What’s Next? Planning Transitions Through and After High School webinar

Broadcast on May 14, 2021, this FFF webinar reviewed data on youth with special needs in  foster, adoptive and kinship families and their outcomes. Content includes a review of special education transition planning requirements and a number of post-secondary programs and other resources for youth and young adults with disabilities and who have been in foster care.

 

  • Webinar, What’s Next? Planning Transitions Through and After High School webinar

    Webinar recording

  • PPT, What’s Next? Planning Transitions Through and After High School webinar

    Presentation slides


Supported Decision Making guide series from PEATC

From PEATC, several booklet guides from the Transition to Adulthood Series.

Is Guardianship My Only Option? – This short 16-page guide reviews guardianship arrangements for adults with disabilities and presents options for supported decision making.

Supported Decision-Making in Special Education Programs – This guide reviews options for supported decision making in schools, related to special education planning and services.

  • PDF, Supported Decision Making guide series from PEATC

    Is Guardianship My Only Option?

  • PDF, Supported Decision Making guide series from PEATC

    Supported Decision Making in Special Education


Tips for Successful Communication with Families During Online Learning

From the Family Engagement Network, convened by Virginia Department of Education. FFF participates in the Family Engagement Network.

  • Factsheet, Tips for Successful Communication with Families During Online Learning


Home/School Contract- Fillable template

This fillable Word document can be used to create and customize a written agreement between student, parent/caregiver, and school staff.  Customize areas and actions and clarify recognitions and rewards.

  • Document, Home/School Contract- Fillable template


Making Services Work for your Family tip sheet

This one pager from the Northern Virginia Family Network offers suggestions to families who collaborate with team members from agencies, schools and other organizations.

  • Factsheet, Making Services Work for your Family tip sheet

    Fact Sheet