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Get plugged into the latest Be Strong Families news, initiatives, and blog articles — all central to creating transformative conversations that nurture the spirit of family, promote well-being and prevent violence.


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Building a Culture of Parent Engagement: Missouri’s Success with Parent Cafés
Cafés, Parent Engagement, Protective Factors Katie Miller Cafés, Parent Engagement, Protective Factors Katie Miller

Building a Culture of Parent Engagement: Missouri’s Success with Parent Cafés

Missouri’s journey with Parent Cafés began in 2013 with a bold vision to strengthen families through connection and community. What started with one bus of parents in St. Louis has grown into a statewide movement, with hundreds of parents attending Cafés each year. These small, peer-led gatherings provide a safe, welcoming space for parents to share, learn, and grow together. The result? Stronger families, deeper trust between parents and providers, and a culture of parent engagement that inspires communities nationwide.

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Why Parent Cafés? Spotlight on Help Me Grow and Goal Concordant Care

Why Parent Cafés? Spotlight on Help Me Grow and Goal Concordant Care

How and why do organizations that serve families use Parent Cafés as a strategy for parent engagement? Often, it’s to create a solid foundation of partnership between staff and parents and among the parents in a program to advance other programmatic initiatives. In 2022, Be Strong Families joined…

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Reflections on the Building a Parent Nation IEL Panel

Reflections on the Building a Parent Nation IEL Panel

Over 3500 people gathered together during the Institute for Educational Leadership Conference in early June for the National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference (CSxFE). Educators and family supporters met from around the country and across the pond in Los Angeles to discuss the development and sustainability of community schools, supporting parents, and students alike. One of the breakout sessions was a featured panel on Parent Nation…

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An Interview with Tecoria Jones on Radical Family Engagement
Family Support, Parent Engagement Guest User Family Support, Parent Engagement Guest User

An Interview with Tecoria Jones on Radical Family Engagement

On November 30, 2020, as part of Be Strong Families daily webinar series Staying Strong and Positive for Ourselves and Our Children, Be Strong Families President and CEO Katthe Wolf interviewed Tecoria Jones about radical family engagement. What works to engage families? What are the barriers? What would radical family engagement look and feel like to parents and agencies? Where is it happening now?

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Weighing in on “Parent Engagement Through a Lens of Equity”
Parent Engagement Di Yin Parent Engagement Di Yin

Weighing in on “Parent Engagement Through a Lens of Equity”

As a privileged white woman in a position of power and authority, committed to diversity, inclusion and radical co-creation, I’ve been trying to sit this one out. I’ve been trying to let my actions speak louder than my words and to use whatever energy and influence I have as an ally to make way for voices at the margin to come to the center and to speak for themselves in this conversation that is bubbling to the surface in our field. I’m aware that sometimes the most important thing I can do to promote equity is to shut up and encourage, and sometimes even coach others to say what’s in their heart and on their mind. 

But I have something to say: this sh*t is annoying.

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