Family and Schools Together

Families play a central and critically important role in our children’s lives. Families and School Together (F&ST) offers support to families to help children do well at school, at home, and in the community.

In F&ST, parents, teachers, and professionals work together to build family unity, strengthen family relationships, and support all members of the family – parents, children, and extended family – achieve their potential. F&ST gives parents and their children an opportunity to spend quality time together, enjoy and support one another and participate more fully and comfortably in their school and in their community. The model’s structure embodies a unique and complex interplay of tested family therapy practices, delinquency and substance abuse prevention strategies, parent education techniques, and communications theory.

F&ST has been recognized in Canada and the United States as a best-practice program for preventing substance abuse problems among young people and for building emotional intelligence. F&ST provides maximum impact in a short period of time – all based on credible theory, proven research, and rigorous evaluation.

How F&ST Works

Eight to ten families participate in 8 weekly after-school meetings at their local school. Each session follows a specific schedule that includes opening and closing traditions, a shared family meal, family activities, parent time, kids’ time, and parent-child time. Families are joined by teachers, program graduates, specialists and other volunteers who help run the evenings.

At the end of the program, families graduate to a 22-month program that mirrors F&ST, but is increasingly led by parent graduates. Over time, it evolves into a local parent support network.
The school F&ST team is made up of a facilitator (from Family Services Ottawa), at least one parent, and at least one teacher. It is supported by a team of volunteers who come from all over. The facilitator serves as team leader, coordinating the program in close consultation with the other team members.

This program is offered free of charge.

Volunteer

Want to get involved as a volunteer with Family and Schools Together? Find out how to here.

If you’d like to bring the program to your child’s school, or for more information about Families & Schools Together, contact Laurie Rektor, Director of Community Programs, at 613-725-3601, ext. 118 or by email at lrektor@familyservicesottawa.org