Offers an example of the Family Strengths Model, a new approach to providing family-focused child development programs. A classroom teacher, a program director, and a family services coordinator provide a summary of the skills and knowledge that are necessary for effective intervention on the part of each early childhood professional. (TJQ)

Describes one elementary school's efforts to increase parental involvement in its day-to-day operations. The procedure adopted to expand parental involvement included analysis and selection of the school's needs, goal setting, parent training, spreading the word, outreach to parents unable to come to the school, ways of showing appreciation to…

Presents an ecologically based training model to guide parents and teachers in reflecting on family involvement in early childhood programs. The two-phase process involves developing a philosophy of family involvement through brainstorming, identifying family involvement themes, and creating a philosophical statement, and examining roles shared by…

Discusses current models of family-professional partnerships and barriers to true collaboration, including turf issues, the nature of trust, expertise differences, and differences in scope of responsibility. Offers recommendations for practice, including questions for self-evaluation. Asserts that as educators change their practice and ways of…