Services
Family Connections is different than other preschools not only because of the unique ways parents participate in the classroom with their children but also because all students at Family Connections come from low income households. For Family Connections to be successful, we must offer additional services to our families to support them in their everyday life.
We partner with a number of county-based services to round out the experience in the classroom as well as help with one-time problems that come up such as family counseling, housing, health insurance, food and even clothing needs.
To enhance the work we do in the classroom, we collaborate with the these organizations through the addition of special speakers to educate our parents:
- Parent’s Place (Early Intervention Service)
- P.A.C.T. (Free Mental Health Counseling)
- Raising a Reader (In Class Training)
- CORA (In Class Training - Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse)
- Kidpower (In Class Training)
- Bring Me A Book Foundation (In Class Training)
- Belle Haven Community School Family Center (Referral Services)
- Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (In Class Focus Groups)
- Local libraries and many other community organizations
We are also active with the San Mateo Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (SMCPPNS), the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS) and the Sequoia Adult School.
The Family Connections curriculum for parents includes bringing our partners into the classroom to instruct parents on these topics:
- Nutrition
- Conflict Resolution
- Domestic Violence
- Positive Discipline
- Health care including dentists and pediatricians
- Children’s Safety
- Early Childhood Development
- Community Resources (library, county health dept., etc.)
Our work with partner organizations is different for each location. For the Belle Haven facility, we have a unique partnership with the Belle Haven Community School Family Center which is located next door to our classroom. The Belle Haven Family Center specializes in conflict resolution. They participate once a month in the classroom, helping to educate parents not only in conflict resolution but also medical, housing and food issues as well as working with food stamps and guidance on health insurance matters.
“I’ve brought my kids since they were a baby. My son, Ryan, was having problems as a toddler talking. I believe that having him with other children helped him with his talking. At Family Connections, I saw progress.”