Family Engagement
What is family engagement? What are the benefits?
Who We Are
Family engagement is families, education programs, and community partners working together to help children and youth learn, grow and prepare for their future. For many years, the Family Engagement program within CETE has worked with the Ohio Department of Education to support schools in implementing practices to support family-school partnerships. In 2018, CETE received federal funding to become Ohio’s Statewide Family Engagement Center.
What We Do
We inspire and equip schools, community organizations, and families to work together by providing information and training on high-impact family engagement practices to improve outcomes for teachers, students, families, and communities.
Our program:
- supports evidence-based approaches to family engagement that are lasting and integrated into family life and the school system;
- contributes new research and survey tools to the field of family engagement, in collaboration with faculty and students at The Ohio State University;
- builds professional training and tools for school leaders, teachers, and community partners to build their capacity to work with families; and
- provides resources for families to support their child’s learning, emotional health, and plans for the future.
Our Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
We acknowledge that we have a critical sphere of influence in developing educators, guiding individuals, and school systems in examining inequities in power, accessibility, and advantages in relationships between schools and families. Our team seeks out experts in many fields to ensure that those looking for information are receiving accurate and relevant resources. We name race, language, ability, and culture and the role they play in the experiences of all students and families by leveraging our technical assistance and training platforms. Through all of our work, we commit to seeking out and raising issues of disproportionality, accessibility, and inequity and to provide opportunities for improving the lives of all children, families and school personnel.
Projects
The Learning Hub: Free Professional Learning for Schools
The Center on Education and Training for Employment’s Family Engagement program is home to the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, supporting the
Surveys of Ohio Families of Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities account for approximately 15% of the students being educated in Ohio schools. Special education encompasses the academic, physical, cognitive
Regional Family-Community Engagement Network
The Ohio Family and Community Engagement Network is a group of dedicated education professionals from across Ohio, comprised of representatives from each
Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center (OhioLEADS)
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $4.6 million, five-year grant to the college’s Center on Education and Training for Employment (CETE) to continue the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center
Anti-Human Trafficking Evaluation
Serving as evaluators for the Salvation Army’s anti-human trafficking efforts for two Office for Victims of Crime grants in Columbus, this work
Family Educator Collaboration Through a Multi-Tiered Approach
The CETE Family Engagement team is developing professional development for regional State Support Teams and designated educator leadership teams in districts across Ohio.
21st Century Advancing Family Engagement (21st CAFÉ)
The purpose of 21stCAFE is to increase the expertise and aptitude of 21st Century program staff to implement high-quality family engagement strategies in Ohio’s 21st CCLC programs.
Family Engagement Professional Learning Supports for Ohio’s Model Literacy Sites
The purpose of this project is to provide Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grantees, and Ohio Department of Education and regional staff who support them, with knowledge and resources
Ohio Model Schools
The purpose of this project is to develop a pathway of support for Ohio LEAs to be better equipped and supported to collaborate effectively and inclusively with families of students with disabilities to support the whole child.
Establishing Families as Partners in the Secondary Transition Planning Process Course and Module Design
Creating a hybrid professional learning experience will consist of in-person instructional meetings and a series of online modules to improve the knowledge and capacity of family-facing professionals
Engaging Every Family for Literacy Development
Providing districts in Ohio receiving “Reaching All Students Through Language and Literacy” grants, and other staff who support them with engaging coursework and resources related to research-based family engagement.
The Learning Hub: Free Professional Learning for Schools
The Center on Education and Training for Employment’s Family Engagement program is home to the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, supporting the
Read MoreSurveys of Ohio Families of Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities account for approximately 15% of the students being educated in Ohio schools. Special education encompasses the academic, physical, cognitive
Read MoreRegional Family-Community Engagement Network
The Ohio Family and Community Engagement Network is a group of dedicated education professionals from across Ohio, comprised of representatives from each
Read MoreProfessional Development for Educators on Family Engagement
The purpose of Ohio’s State Professional Development Grant (SPDG) awarded to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is to identify and address
Read MoreOhio Statewide Family Engagement Center
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Ohio State’ Center on Education and Training for Employment a 5-year Title IV grant. This $4.2
Read MoreProgram Team
Barbara Boone, PhD
Program Director
Yesenia Alvarez Padilla
Family Engagement Researcher
Hadley Bachman, PhD
Research Administration Management Consultant
Thomas Capretta
Project Coordinator
Sarah DeShon
Family Engagament Learning Coordinator
Whitney Gherman
Research Senior Associate
Kristin Meek-Hennon
Project Coordinator
Wesley Owens
Research Senior Associate
