Join the Family and Community Wellness Collective!
Building on our trauma-informed work with school staff, we are empowering parents and caregivers in 900+ schools to become Family Healing Ambassadors. This initiative is being launched Citywide at schools located in the 33 neighborhoods most impacted by COVID-19.
Following a 4-part professional learning series designed to deepen skills and knowledge about mental health and wellness, Family Healing Ambassadors will lead healing sessions for families at their schools.
A community of parents or caregivers who want to learn more about how to care for themselves and their school community. Those registered will:
- Participate in a 4-part professional learning series
- Become the school’s Family Healing Ambassador
- Facilitate a session for families at their school
- Receive a stipend for their participation.
The PA/PTA will identify the school’s ambassador, using the following criteria:
- Has a child attending the school next fall.
- Can fulfill the time commitment (4 summer sessions, 1 fall school facilitation).
- Consult with the SLT
- Use a fair and equitable process to select an ambassador (i.e., vote at PA/PTA meeting)
- The school’s ambassador can be any parent in the school community.
How to become a Family Healing Ambassador
- See the list of eligible schools that can select a caregiver to participate.
- Register for the sessions
- Parent Coordinators can use the same link to register
- Questions?
- Contact your school’s PTA/PA to indicate interest.
The Office of Family and Community Empowerment (FACE) and District staff will work with eligible school(s) that do not have a functional PA/PTA.
Save the Date: Sessions
Parent Ambassador must attend four online learning sessions on:
- July 20
- July 27
- August 3
- August 10
- (Optional) September 14
Fall 2021: The parent/caregiver facilitates a school session
Why is this important?
This initiative focuses on 33 communities “hardest hit” by COVID-19, in addition to communities that have a high percentage of other health and socioeconomic disparities. The DOE is committed to supporting trauma-responsive educational practices and resources and this initiative does that. Parent leaders will be key partners to the school’s leadership team to help champion and advance trauma-informed approaches within the school community. Parent leaders will also have access to families through existing PA/PTA channels independent of efforts taken by school leaders and staff.
For questions email : FACE@schools.nyc.gov