Engaging Students and Families in Tough Economic Times

Communities across the nation have been deeply impacted by the economic downturn, with most counties experiencing an increase in poverty rates. More families have been dealing with unemployment, the threat of foreclosure, and even homelessness. Meanwhile, children are affected by family instability and anxiety, which in turn impacts their school performance. In this webinar participants will learn how can schools and other providers can recognize signs of stress in students, and offer assistance to struggling families who may not feel comfortable reaching out for help.

During the webinar, participants will . . .

• Gain increased awareness of the economic and racial/ethnic disparities in education faced by students and families.
• Learn to identify potential warning signs of stress in students and families experiencing stress from the economy.
• Learn strategies to engage and include families who may not feel comfortable reaching out for help.
• Gain increased awareness of culturally and linguistically competent family engagement resources as well as resources on identifying warning signs of stress in youth and adults.

Who may be interested in attending this webinar: SS/HS Project Directors are encouraged to invite their mental health partners, school counselors, and others who do outreach work in their communities 

This is the second in a series of two webinars presented by the National Center’s Cultural and Linguistic Competence Committee on the topic of economic disparities and family engagement. To watch a recording of the first webinar,  Reaching out to Parents in Economically Disadvantaged Communities or access the resources shared, please visit http://sshs.promoteprevent.org/webinar/reaching-out-parents-economically-disadvantaged-communities.

If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact Ben Spooner at bspooner@edc.org.  We look forward to your participation!