hnemour

Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support

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The Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support were issued by the California Network of Family Strengthening Networks (CNFSN) in 2012, and adopted by the National Network of Family Support and Strengthening Networks in 2013. They are the first and only standards in the country to integrate and operationalize the Principles of Family Support Practice with the Strengthening Families Approach and its research-based evidence-informed 5 Protective Factors. The vision is that their implementation will help ensure that families are supported and strengthened through quality practice.

Standards are designed to be used by all stakeholders–public departments, foundations, community-based organizations, and parents–across different kinds of Family Strengthening and Family Support programs as a tool for planning, providing, and assessing quality practice. The Standards create common language and expectations in the Family Support and Strengthening field across different kinds of programs, such as Family Resource Centers, home visiting programs, and child development programs.

Training is a fundamental strategy for implementing the Standards effectively.

Certification Training: This full-day training is designed for all management and direct service staff, as well as for funders. Each individual who completes the training receives a certificate that is valid for 2 years. This training is provided by the CNFSN, member networks of the CNFSN, and member networks of the National Network of Family Support & Strengthening Networks.

Randi Kay Stephens

CCS Partnerships – Toolkit for Community Schools Partnerships

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City and county officials are working with schools and others to create and sustain partnerships aimed at providing essential services and support to children and families. These community schools partnerships are transforming communities. The Cities Counties Schools (CCS) Partnership, a collaborative effort of the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties and the California School Boards Association, has developed an online toolkit for local officials and staff. The toolkit provides a way to learn more about strategies that connect the resources of cities, counties, schools and community-based organizations. It offers examples of successful partnerships in urban, suburban and rural communities along with best practices and resources from California and national organizations. Some of the partnerships highlighted in the toolkit focus on the joint use of facilities, providing direct services to children and families or aligning limited resources to accomplish joint goals. Every collaborative effort is unique, but each addresses specific needs with resources and assets within the community.

CSNetwork

Financing Community Schools: Leveraging Resources to Support Student Success

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A report looking at how community schools finance their work – describes the resources, partnerships, and activities community schools generate with the dollars they have; where monies come from; and the mechanisms community schools use to leverage additional funding and build their capacity to achieve agreed upon results. Draws on survey results and case studies from both individual sites as well as district-sponsored initiatives.

CSNetwork

Attending School Every Day: Making Progress, Taking Action in Oakland Schools

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A report providing an in-depth look into the local attendance patterns of students in Oakland, including an examination of overall attendance, differences in attendance patterns by group and grade levels, how attendance is impacting outcomes. Also an examination of strategies being employed at the district level to impact attendance.