Activity 3-3:
Creating the Future



Purpose: To practice using strategies to identify and achieve family goals as part of the family partnership agreement process.

Preparation: For this activity you will need:
Coach Preparation Note: This coaching activity involves two sessions with two homework assignments on making family goals a reality.

Session 1
  1. Introduce the activity. Explain that there are numerous strategies to help families identify their goals. State that in this session participants will learn the strategies of visioning and creating a family picture as they work with a family to identify its goals.

  2. Examine the strategies of visioning and creating a family picture. With participants, discuss the strategies of visioning and creating a family picture, as explained in the key concepts and background information sections of this module.
     
    Coach Preparation Note: Reinforce that visioning and creating a family picture are not the only way to initiate family goal setting. State that families can draw, write, or describe their plans for the future; it is important to adapt these strategies to individual families.  

     
  3. Develop goals and define goal statements. Discuss the defmition of a "goal" and the four characteristics of a clearly articulated goal statement: realistic, specific, time-limited, and results-oriented. Use the module's background information to enhance the discussion.


  4. Have participants practice family goal setting. Distribute and review handout 1 with participants. Explain to participants that this handout will help them complete a homework assignment. Tell participants to choose a Head Start family, family member, or a close friend. As homework, participants should guide the family, family member, or friend through the visioning process (part 1) and help the family or individual create a family picture (part 2). To complete the exercise, ask participants to assist the family, family member, or friend as they set realistic, time- limited, specific, results-oriented goals (part 3 and part 4). Set a date and time to meet again.
     
Coach Preparation Note: Emphasize to participants that when working with families, the staff role is one of facilitator. Staff should not set the family's goals. Instead, they must help the family articulate and define its own goals. 

Session 2
  1. Debrief the homework assignment. Review and discuss participants' goal setting experiences. Ask participants to focus on the process and not on the content. Ask the following questions to start discussion:

    • How would you describe your experience?

    • What did you learn from it?

    • How do the strategies you tried compare to the ones you usually use with Head Start families?

    • What concerns, if any, do you have about using these strategies in your work with families?

  2. Introduce the session. Explain that once the family's goals for the future are identified, staff should encourage parents to make the goals a reality. Make the following points:

    • Head Start families vary with regard to their need or readiness for staff involvement in achieving family goals.

    • Families have the right to decide when and how they want Head Start involved in their pursuit of family
      goals.

    • It is important to remember that one approach will not work for every family. Therefore, staff must individualize their efforts with families, allowing for differences among families in their goals and approaches for achieving them. Any approach used should address not only the family's goals, but also its strategies, responsibilities, and timetables.

  3. Outline a six-step approach for achieving family goals. Distribute handout 3. Use the module's background information to expand on the handout. State that this approach provides staff with a process for working with families, other Head Start staff, and community partners to help families achieve their goals.

  4. . Assign homework. As homework, ask participants to continue the partnership with the Head Start family, family member, or friend from Session 1. Instruct participants to help them achieve their goals by developing strategies, responsibilities, and timetables. State that handout 5 can assist them in the process. Set a date and time to debrief the homework.

  5. Debrief the homework. When meeting with participants discuss the process and the outcomes of the homework. Ask:

    • How did the family member or friend respond?

    • What did you learn from the experience that you can use in your work with other families?
     
  6. Close the activity. Congratulate participants for trying new goal-setting strategies. Remind participants that once the family's goals for the future are identified, they should encourage parents to make the goals a reality. Reinforce that Head Start families vary with regard to their interest or readiness for staff involvement in achieving family goals and that there is no one way for families to attain their goals. Reinforce that follow-up and reviewing the family's progress are essential components of family goal setting.



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