Bringing Unity into Families: The Success of FamilyCare's Partners Program

By DYANNE CANO
LAEP Learning Exchange

Can a family strengthen its relationship by devoting three hours one night a week to spending time together? Participants in the Partners program have done so.

Partners is a family-strengthening program developed by the Los Angeles Educational Partnership's FamilyCare initiative that targets families with students who are having behavioral probelms in the classroom. An eight-week program, families meet for three hours one evening a week and participate in various family-related activities, which provide them the opportunity to form healthier and more solid family foundations, providing better results for students in school.

"Partners is effective because the whole family is there," said Amy Rice, FamilyCare manager and trainer for Partners. "Not only parents, but aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins are invited to participate. The program assists families in developing listening and communcation skills in a fun, relaxed setting. Both parents and children have their needs met."

Families eat dinner together and participate in activities and games that require interaction between family members. Then parents and children have their own time. Afterwards, parents have one-on-one playtime with their children, a special time families rarely get in a normal week. A closing circle concludes the session.

An initiative of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership, FamilyCare works with schools and their communities to develop and implement effective strategies for increasing access to health, social and community services for children and families. The program also strengthens the role parents play at the school site and in the community by engaging them in the development and delivery of needed services.

Partners is part of the FamilyCare Pacoima San Fernando Health Initiative. Funded by the California Endowment, the program first piloted at Maclay Primary Center. Eighteen months later, 160 people have successfully completed the program. Recently, Haddon Avenue Elementary and Community Charter School hosted the Partners program and held "graduations".

"The program reaches families in ways that make them feel comfortable with their feelings," said Randall Edwards, a social worker and Partners coordinator at Haddon Elementary School. "They do not feel judged. Parents also learn more about their own parenting skills and improve on them."

The results are positive and encouraging. At the end of the program, parents and children completed post-evaluations of the program. They saw improvements within their households.

"We have learned how to resolve conflicts and listen better," said one participant. "I spend more time with my children and understand them more," said another parent.

The overall response from parents was that they felt the program worthwhile and wanted more sessions after the eight weeks.

Students also noted changes. "We eat together and spend time telling stories to each other," one young participant said. "I listen to my parents more," said another.

Teachers refer students to the program. Initially, they comment on the student's performance in the classroom and what could be improved. Their post-evaluations of the students show much progress. One teacher said that her student has improved his attitude towards school. He's becoming more motivated and seems to respond better to adult authority.

"He has improved emotionally. He can play and interact in more positive and constructive ways," another said.

Edwards credits the improvements to a close family network. "When the child is getting his or her needs met within the family, they feel more comfortable and secure so they do well in school," she said, adding that adults become more involved with the schools as a result of the Partners program.

"The Partners program has increased my belief that reaching out to families to help their children is the best way for these students to start improving in school," Edwards said. "It has helped my family reinforce positive practices in my own home."

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