Module 1: What Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions are Necessary to Promote Family Engagement?
The National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE, 2022) outlined eight interrelated core competencies for family-facing professionals. The family engagement competencies are grouped into four domains: reflect, connect, collaborate, and lead alongside families. The competencies are briefly described below. You will be able to see which competencies are addressed in each of the upcoming modules.
| Domain | Competency | Brief Description |
| Reflect | #1. Respect, Honor, and Value Families
#2. Embrace Equity Throughout Family Engagement |
a. Examine, respect, and value the cultural and linguistic diversity of families and communities
b. Explore, understand, and honor with families how children develop, grow, and change from birth through adulthood across settings, and how these changes affect families
a. Look inward to develop cultural humility, cognitive flexibility, and perspective-taking skills to practice anti-bias and equitable family and community engagement. b. Reflect on how history and social context influence family engagement systems and practices |
| Connect | #3. Build Trusting Reciprocal Relationships with Families
#4. Foster Community Partnerships for Learning and Family Wellbeing |
a. Cultivate mutual trust
b. Communicate effectively c. Create welcoming environments d. Reach out actively to families, especially those who might be most underserved
a. Build community partnerships to support children and families b. Establish systems to expand how families link to community resources c. Cultivate social support networks and connections among families |
| Collaborate for Learning | #5. Co-Construct Learning Opportunities with Families
#6. Link Family and Community Engagement to Learning and Development |
a. Build upon family knowledge as resources for learning
b. Join together with families for planning, implementing, and evaluating learning opportunities and services
a. Develop data systems that are accessible to each and every family b. Create conversations around developmental and academic progress c. Expand on family learning in the home and community |
| Lead Alongside Families | #7. Take Part in Lifelong Learning
#8. Advocate for Systems Change |
a. Identify and participate as a member of the family engagement profession
b. Engage in professional learning to grow family engagement knowledge and skills c. Use data to assess, evaluate, and improve family and community engagement
a. Identify and examine new and existing policies and practices to further family and community engagement b. Champion equity as an essential element of family and community engagement and stand with families for equitable educational systems and outcomes c. Reframe the conversation around family and community engagement to |
