Family Involvement: Barriers and Solutions

Lack of Time

  • Be flexible in scheduling meetings and events
  • Schedule back-to-back with other events that parents will be attending
  • Try different lengths of time for events (e.g., 1-2 hour, ½ day)
  • Make the activity one that they really want to attend – if it is valued more people will be likely to make the time.

Lack confidence in their ability to contribute

  • Extend a personal welcome to hesitant family members
  • Have another family member invite them and share his/her own experience
  • Learn about their interests and abilities – use the “We are all Resources” activity
  • Once you know people’s interests and abilities, don’t wait for them to offer to help – ask them
  • Freely compliment and highlight all contributions families make

Not understanding the system

  • Share information (written and verbal) in family-friendly language
  • Enlist the help of your state’s Parent Training & Information Center (PTI)
  • Include phone numbers of people who can answer questions

Lack money for and/or access to childcare

  • Seek volunteers to provide child care onsite (college or high school students, siblings)
  • Pay a stipend so parents can set up their own child care
  • Develop a list of child care providers that other parents know are good and available

Language, cultural or value differences

  • Have written materials translated into needed languages
  • Ask the family about their culture, values and how these could be incorporated
  • Ask the PTI or schools to help with interpreters or translators
  • Learn about and celebrate the different cultures and values of families
  • Honor cultural holidays and observances by not scheduling events during these

Feeling intimidated or viewed as inadequate around more knowledgeable families or professionals

  • Reach out to each family individually.
  • Encourage seasoned parents to welcome new parents
  • Don’t assume families know something. Check with them and explain if necessary.
  • Encourage questions -- answer them fully. Give the family the phone number of someone they can call if they have questions at a later time.
  • Design activities so everyone has an opportunity to participate

Lack of transportation

  • Hold meetings in places that are easy to get to and accessible by public transportation
  • Get volunteers to pick up others
  • Offer transportation for families to special events
  • Visit families in their own home
  • Offer support that doesn’t require being face-to-face

Scheduling conflicts/difficulties

  • Be flexible
  • Ask as many families as possible about the best time to get together – accommodate as many as possible
  • Schedule far in advance and get the word out. Personal contact works best.
  • Offer different types of support at different times of the day, week, month, etc.

Not feeling welcome

  • Ask another family member to personally greet and introduce a new person
  • Design activities so everyone feels comfortable participating
  • Learn about a person’s interests and abilities and use these to draw them into the activity

May have no phone

  • Visit the family’s home
  • Use written communication
  • Offer to meet them in person at a place that they choose

May be unable to read or understand written communication/materials

  • Use simple, direct language – no jargon
  • Use pictures or diagrams (visuals) to help clarify
  • Don’t clutter written materials with a lot of words – keep it simple

May not understand what is being communicated or what is being asked of them

  • Call on the telephone, don’t send written communication home
  • Provide video materials

May feel they’ll be judged as “good” or “bad” parents

  • Demonstrate a philosophy of participation for all – judgment for none in all you do
  • Encourage sharing of different experiences, values, ideas

Feel uncomfortable because they don’t know what will be expected of them

  • Clearly describe what you are offering them or what you would like them to do – bulleted or numbered statements work well
  • Call on the telephone, encourage them to ask questions
  • Offer to meet them and accompany them to the activity

References:

Bennett PhD, T., Nelson, D., Lingerfelt, B. (1992). Facilitating Family-Centered Training in Early Intervention. Tucson, AZ: Communication Skill Builders.

Reaching Out to Others: Overcoming Barriers to Parent/Family Involvement. National PTA

The National Center on Deaf-Blindness is funded through award #H326T130013 by the U.S. Department of Education, OSERS, OSEP. The opinions and policies expressed by this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Teaching Research Institute, or the U.S. Department of Education. Federal Project Officer, JoAnn McCann.

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