Evaluation of a Family and Community Engagement Strategy in Three Ontario Communities

Authors

  • Glenda L. Black Nipissing University
  • Maria Cantalini-Williams Nipissing University
  • Susan E. Elliott-Johns Nipissing University
  • Ron Wideman Nipissing University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v59i4.55696

Keywords:

Community engagement, Multi-agency Partnerships, Transitions to School, Early Years Learning, Educational Leadership

Abstract

The Learning Partnership (TLP) initiated a Family and Community Engagement Strategy (FACES) initiative in three Ontario communities to foster active and responsive relationships among community partners and enhanced family engagement in transitions to school. A case study research design, grounded in participatory action research, was used to describe the processes and activities undertaken by the three communities. Findings indicate that social capital (Block, 2009) was increased through a unified focus on the needs of children, strong local leadership, collaboration among community partners, and effective strategies embedding FACES into the culture of the community.

Le Partenariat en éducation a initié une stratégie (Family and Community Engagement Strategy – FACES) dans trois communautés en Ontario de sorte à favoriser, d’une part, des relations actives et dynamiques parmi les partenaires de la communauté et, d’autre part, l’implication de la famille dans la transition vers l’école. Suivant le plan de recherche d’une étude de cas reposant sur la participation active, nous avons décrit les démarches et les activités entreprises par les trois communautés. Les résultats indiquent que le capital social (Black, 2009) a augmenté en raison d’une orientation commune concentrée sur les besoins des enfants, un leadership local solide, la collaboration entre les partenaires communautaires et des stratégies efficaces intégrant FACES dans la culture de la communauté.

 

Author Biographies

Glenda L. Black, Nipissing University

Glenda L. Black is currently an Assistant Professor at Nipissing University where she teaches courses in the pre-service and graduate programs in Education.

http://www.nipissingu.ca/about-us/people/Pages/Glenda-Black.aspx

 

Maria Cantalini-Williams, Nipissing University

Maria Cantalini-Williams is an Associate Professor in the Schulich School of Education, Nipissing University, Brantford campus. Maria has taught pre-service consecutive and concurrent education courses and at the graduate level. Her research areas of focus are early childhood education and teacher development.

Susan E. Elliott-Johns, Nipissing University

Susan E. Elliott-Johns is currently an Associate Professor at Nipissing University where she teaches courses in the pre-service and graduate programs in Education. http://www.nipissingu.ca/about-us/people/Pages/Susan-Elliott-Johns.aspx

Ron Wideman, Nipissing University

Ron Wideman is currently Professor of Education at Nipissing University where he teaches courses at the graduate level. Ron is Director of the Nipissing University Centre for the Study of Leadership and Ethics (http://csle.nipissingu.ca/) and Co-editor in Chief of the peer reviewed Journal of Authentic Leadership in Education (http://csle.nipissingu.ca/jale.htm).

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Published

2014-10-30

How to Cite

Black, G. L., Cantalini-Williams, M., Elliott-Johns, S. E., & Wideman, R. (2014). Evaluation of a Family and Community Engagement Strategy in Three Ontario Communities. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 59(4), 569–590. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v59i4.55696

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Section

ARTICLES