ENGAGING PARENTS IN STUDENTS PATH TO COLLEGE AND

ENGAGING PARENTS IN STUDENTS’ PATH TO COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS NOTE: SLIDES TAKEN FROM LARGER WEBINAR PRESENTED IN MARCH, 2014 CONTENT FOR THIS PORTION PROVIDED BY COLLEGE BOUND, ST. LOUIS

Welcome & Thank You: USA Funds Indiana Commission for Higher Education

ENGAGING THE FAMILY in the TRANSITION TO COLLEGE Leah Boersig College Bound, St. Louis Leah@collegeboundstl. org

FAMILIES AS PARTNERS CORE VALUES ① Radical Welcome ② Parents Are Learners ③ Parents Are Teachers ④ Break Down Barriers ⑤ Persistent Contact

①RADICAL WELCOME Families expect a radical welcome by every person to every person who enters the office. • Express genuine friendship and care. • Create bond through shared commitment to student’s success. ü Office hours, Parent networking events

②PARENTS ARE LEARNERS Parents want to be informed about children’s education. • Teach parents in the same engaging, effective way you would teach their students. ü Parent mailings, workshops, and events

③PARENTS ARE TEACHERS Parents and families are usually the main support system for students and have a huge influence on their choices and actions through direct instruction and modeling. • Give parents tools, like staff, to empower them to share knowledge and advice. ü Parent leadership committee, Parent designed programs

④BREAK DOWN BARRIERS Provide food. • Help problem-solve transportation issues and provide necessary tools and assistance. ü Bus Tickets and Rides • Offer childcare during events. • Make every effort to share information. ü “Did Not Attend” Parent Meetings Mailings

⑤ PERSISTENT CONTACT Always update contact information. ü Naviance Database • Try multiple methods of communication. • Aim for maximum contact within bandwidth of organization. More contact leads to greater results. ü Contact Procedure for Priority Events

Comprehensive Approach

PREVENT SUMMER MELT If you can only do one thing… Enrollment workshops! 0 Student + Parent + Staff 0 Late May/Early June 0 Identify barriers, challenges, needs: 0 Financial Review 0 Enrollment To Do List 0 Introduce follow up support Use volunteers, use older students, use more experienced parents. Use whatever you can to get students this critical support!

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS