McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha, MS.Ed. | April 14, 2025

This document may be printed, photocopied, and disseminated freely with attribution. All content is the property of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

What is “Family Engagement?” Early childhood program administrators often hear that they should “engage” families in order to best meet the needs of children and ensure understanding of their programming. Family engagement is a partnership with the families in your program. It can develop and grow from birth to school age, and change with circumstances. Family engagement may look different from family to family and can also contain some similar qualities from family to family.


Why Engage Families?


What happens when we engage families? Engagement can have a lasting effect and sets the stage for a positive future, for both the child and the family.

Family engagement includes actions, habits, and collaborations which can change as the child ages.


Who should Engage Families?


Directors are the first to engage the family, but it doesn’t stop there. The classroom teacher and other staff need to get involved as well.


How to Engage Families


In your daily work as program administrators, many of the things you are already doing contribute to family engagement and help families feel secure in their decision to use your facility to help care for and teach their children.

These can include:


  • Sharing photos you take with parents
  • Talking with parents at enrollment about important items in your parent handbook
  • Learning about each child’s developmental history
  • Greeting each child and parent daily
  • Sending at-home activities for parents and children to do together


Directors and teachers need to be responsive, strengths-based, accessible, and effective. There are surveys that can help directors and teachers to understand family needs. They can help identify things like time constraints that might make it difficult for families to engage in program activities.


Get creative as you see the needs in your area. Involve other agencies, businesses, and other programs. Establish collaborations within your community that can help each family in your program. Offer volunteer opportunities for the caregivers to get involved with the program and classroom. Continually invite feedback from the families. Make sure parents and relatives know that they can volunteer to read books or share information about the family customs etc.


One specific example could be to have the program stay open a little longer for a day and offer a meal as parents pick up children. Parents and children can eat together, then have time for separate parent and child activities. Invite a speaker to come for the parent session on a topic of interest while children complete a planned activity.


What do your families need?


To determine how best to help families and encourage relationships that grow, remember to consider family structures. There are many types of family structures today. Learn about your families, how they say their names, who is important in each child’s life, and how you can understand and support them.



The environment in your child care center or home shows what is important to you. It comes through in your engagement with families, the displays families see, and the organization of your child care space. Looking over your environment can be a starting place for directors and teachers as you imagine how it feels to someone who has never entered your space before.


This first engagement can lead to engaging other families and the community, and it can set the stage for continued engagement with the schools and community as the child ages.


Some family engagement ideas:


  • Potlucks
  • Reading nights
  • Date nights
  • Resource nights
  • Food pantries
  • Health departments
  • Library days
  • Community gardens
  • Host social events
  • Participate in community events
  • Host fun and educational activities


In closing, start implementing your strategies for engaging families. Keep it as an item for your staff meetings so new ideas always come forward. The better you get to know your families, the stronger your program will be.

Cara Murdoch, B.A., is an assessor and training specialist at the McCormick Institute, Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. Cara earned a baccalaureate degree in art and psychology and a lifetime teaching certificate for Art K-12 from Culver-Stockton College. Previously, Cara was a Quality Specialist. She spent 20 years in the Early Childhood Education field in classroom settings and as an assistant director. Cara initiated, advised, and was a consultant in the development of the year-round Essentials Preschool Curriculum for Gospel Publishing House.



Sherry Rocha, MS.Ed., is an assessor and training specialist at the McCormick Institute, Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in multicultural education. Sherry has been dedicated to children and their welfare, safety, and emotional growth for over 30 years. She designed Nurturing Creativity in Children, a curriculum that won a national award from the National Extension Association of Family Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS), and was the recipient of additional awards for state and regional diversity work as the leader of the Education and Community committees of the Chicago Latino Coalition for Prevention. Sherry took the lead in creating the coalition’s video, Choosing Quality Childcare, in Spanish with subtitles in English.

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Building Community Partnerships for Lasting Impact

By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha • December 12, 2025
By Cara Murdoch and Sherry Rocha Community collaborations can strengthen your early childhood program, expand services for families, and increase your visibility and credibility as a trusted resource in the community. But effective partnerships don’t begin with a phone call—they start with a plan. Start with internal planning Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: Members of your board of directors or advisory board Program staff members Interested family members and parents of enrolled children. REVISIT your mission and goals A clear, shared understanding of your program’s purpose will guide effective partnerships. Before reaching out to community members or organizations, gather insights from your internal team. Hold a brief planning meeting to discuss goals, identify needs, and build a shared vision for collaboration. Consider including: What is your mission? What strengths and expertise do we bring to the community? What challenges do our enrolled families face? What support or resources would be most helpful? What can we offer potential partners in return? Clarity about these questions will ensure that your outreach to community members and organizations is focused and meaningful. Learn about local resources Begin exploring the services and organizations that exist in your community. These may become valuable referral partners or direct collaborators. Examples include: Early intervention services Family support agencies Mental health providers Multilingual tax-preparation volunteers Knowing these resources helps you connect families with the help they need. share your space and services Your early childhood center may be a valuable asset for other groups. Consider offering your space to other programs or groups to strengthen your role as a community hub. Possibilities include: Scouting America or Girl Scout meetings Parenting workshops or support groups Health screenings or nutrition programs Community committee meetings participate in community events Raising visibility in your community opens doors to partnership. Become involved in: Neighborhood clean-up days Local fairs or festivals Library literacy events Cultural celebrations School district events These types of interactions naturally build trust and relationships. build and expand your network Partnerships often begin with small conversations or shared goals. Stay curious and connected—the more people you meet, the more opportunities arise. Potential collaborators include: Museums Public libraries Human services departments Colleges and universities Local schools Cooperative Extension services Hospitals and clinics Banks and financial advisors Mental health agencies Early intervention programs Remember: partnerships are mutually beneficial Successful collaborations are built on: Clear communication Shared goals Appreciation for each other’s strengths A commitment to supporting families and the community Whether the support you receive is financial, advisory, or educational, strong partnerships help everyone thrive. A final thought Community partnerships don’t happen overnight. With the proper planning, your early childhood program can become a powerful and connected resource in your neighborhood. Start small, stay open to ideas, and let relationships grow.
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