Family and Schools Connected incorporates a number of topics developed for the Family Solutions Program that affect students’ educational opportunities. Families and Schools Connected can be used to help reduce problems with truancy, aid in bettering communication and relationships with parents, reduce problem behaviors among youth, and help youth to realize the importance of their education. Below is a sample Families and Schools Connected program:
Session 1: Family Cooperation and Communication
• Encourages good communication and cooperation among family members.
• Helps parents and youth communicate their feelings, needs and expectations to one
another and to persons outside of the home.
• Reminds parents of the value of their important role in the life of their child.
• Helps parents and youth to reflect on their own part in strengthening their parent-child
relationship.
Session 2: The Importance of Education for the Whole Family
• Encourages families to emphasize education in their daily lives and identify and attain
educational resources; helps youth realize the importance of their current actions on
their future.
• Parents and youth are inspired to reach their potential from the story of George
Dawson, a man who learned to read at age 98 and wrote a book at 100.
• Demonstrates the value of parental engagement and support for their children’s
educational success; helps parents and youth develop a plan for improving academic
performance and behavior.
Session 3: Decision Making, Conflict Resolution, and Anger Control
• Helps youth and parents realize the consequences of their actions and how decisions
affect themselves, their families, and their educational success.
• Teaches youth alternative ways to resolve conflict with peers, school officials and
parents.
• Teaches youth and parents ways to identify anger triggers and physical cues and to learn
new ways to reduce angry feelings.
