Family Voice – Family Leadership – Family Advocacy
Family support staff at the four Neighborhood House ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) sites in Seattle connect families to a range of services and supports. Far beyond “parent education,” these services are the basis for a multi-generational approach that improves outcomes for children and families – both short- and long-term. Meeting a family where they are and scaffolding supports to build strength and resiliency provide a solid foundation for long-term success.
The following stories illustrate the high-value and high-leverage impacts of the services ECEAP Family Support staff provide at Neighborhood House.
Stable Housing, Employment Support, and Keeping a Family Together
One of the families served by Neighborhood House ECEAP entered the program while experiencing homelessness. The mother lost her husband in her native country and was struggling as a single parent. She expressed doubt over whether she would be able to care for her children and considered giving them up to the child welfare system. Fortunately, thanks in part to Neighborhood House, this did not happen. Neighborhood House staff became a great source of support to this mother, working closely with her as she applied for housing assistance. The housing application is a long and draining process, which the mother contemplated giving up on at times. Neighborhood House staff encouraged her and continued to provide resources and support. This joyful family recently moved into stable housing. They continue to face challenges, but Neighborhood House is there to help them navigate each one. When the mother recently lost her job, staff who speak her language walked her through the unemployment application and worked with her to build her resume so that she can find a job that fits her needs. Neighborhood House continues to check in with this family weekly, helping the mother carry out home activities with her children and ensuring their well-being.
Easing Inequities in Distance Learning
Many families have struggled to access the technology necessary to participate in home-based learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. One ECEAP family with three young children were taking turns with devices and finding it difficult to access their online learning programs. Neighborhood House staff connected this family with a local nonprofit that helps low-income families meet their technology needs. The children now have the devices needed to participate in home learning and the family has one less worry in this stressful time.
Accessing Employment Services
Neighborhood House ECEAP staff are there for families as they seek to improve their economic security. Many ECEAP families struggle to apply for unemployment benefits due to language barriers and a lack of knowledge of the system. ECEAP staff help these families successfully apply for unemployment benefits. Helping working families meet their basic income needs during this economic downturn will prevent them from having to apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program benefits, which also saves the state of Washington money in the long run.
Building Family Advocacy Skills
ECEAP also supports families by helping them advocate for their children as they work with the education system. One Neighborhood House family has three children, one of whom is enrolled in ECEAP. This mom shared that her eldest child, a kindergartner, was having behavior problems at school. The child, who is also an Individualized Education Program (IEP) participant, was spending too much time in the office due to their behavior. Family Support staff encouraged the mom to seek more information from the school about her child and to ask questions about the modified approach being implemented for the child. Staff shared information with this mom about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and explained her right to advocate for her child if she feels they are being mistreated or if their needs are not being met. Initially, the mom did not feel confident in approaching the school about this issue due to a language barrier and incomplete understanding of the IEP. Program staff provided support by attending meetings with her and a translator. After a few months of attending parent/teacher conferences and an IEP meeting, the child was no longer being removed from class and was having fewer behavioral issues. Teachers are now communicating more frequently with the mom, and mom is beginning to feel more empowered to speak up for herself and advocate for her child.
Neighborhood House’s approach creates bridges for participating families to services, increases understanding, and closes gaps that can feel unsurmountable as families strive to create better lives for their children.
To learn more about Neighborhood House Early Learning Services, watch this video.