This guest post is authored by Emily Stupica, Ed.S., a family engagement program consultant and coordinator, and director of Two Gen-You-Win Educational Consulting.
As a school psychologist working with the FamilySpace program for more than a year, I have observed what makes FamilySpace unique.
During my 30 years working with early childhood families in school systems and with curricular-based programs in school, library, medical, and recreation settings, I have discovered that many programs focus on intervention. Target groups are identified (teen parents, children with disabilities, or ESL families), and the designed curriculum addresses each group’s perceived deficits and needs.
Learn more about the FamilySpace program in this video from WKYC news in Cleveland.
Prevention not intervention
FamilySpace sets itself apart as a preventative program that is open to all children through age five, and their families and caregivers, in Cuyahoga County. The program provides safe and fun spaces for children to play and learn and for their families to share information and hear about helpful, free services. For many families, FamilySpace provides the first opportunity for their child to play with other children and learn socialization skills.
At FamilySpace, families find the space, time, and opportunity to create meaningful and lasting connections. These interactions are supported and facilitated by encouraging and knowledgeable staff who develop close and trusting relationships with families and help connect them to community referrals.
However, the most striking aspect of the program is seeing the dramatic developmental progress made by so many children who attend FamilySpace regularly. From my experience in preschool and kindergarten environments, many of these children would have received referrals to the school district team as students with a suspected disability and in need of intervention. Through FamilySpace, I have seen a pattern of improvement as repeated experiences playing with peers in a supportive environment allow a child to demonstrate age-appropriate social and language skills.
Children need opportunities to develop social, language, sensory, and motor skills. In addition, their caregivers often benefit from guidance on how to support their children’s development.
Some of this happens with conversations and encouragement from family advocates. Much of this work, however, occurs organically as caregivers learn from each other through modeling and conversation. At the same time, they relax and bask in the joy of the playful environment provided by FamilySpace.
What is FamilySpace?
Launched in 2021, FamilySpace is a partnership between United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cuyahoga County’s Invest in Children, Cuyahoga Country Public Libraries, Cleveland Public Libraries, and Family Connections.
FamilySpace is located at libraries in Garfield Heights, South Euclid/Lyndhurst, Carnegie West, and Hough. Each location consists of four core components:
- Family-friendly spaces, materials, and activities designed to meet the needs of families.
- Onsite trained professional staff
- Referrals to services and resources, such as job training, early childhood mental health services, and more
- A neighborhood-based Family Advisory Committee that guides the programming to meet family interests and needs
In 2023, FamilySpace was awarded the National Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties for its innovative and supportive programs.
Building positive communities
While referrals can be made if additional intervention is required, a significant percentage of children that present with concerning behaviors (i.e., running away from the area, using hands and feet to solve problems, decreased use of expressive or pragmatic (social) language, difficulty sharing and taking turns, etc.) work out these issues in the context of FamilySpace through repeated practice, guidance, modeling, and an enriched and developmentally appropriate setting.
For children with documented disabilities, FamilySpace is also an environment that supports the generalization of skills learned in early intervention. One mother of a son with moderate autism indicated that “He didn’t qualify for the extended school year, but FamilySpace is making him keep his gains. I see a negative difference if I don’t come for a week.”
School districts, agencies for assessment observations, Applied Behavior Analysis teachers, social workers, and mental health professionals also utilize FamilySpace as a location to work on generalizing ABA skills with their students.
The FamilySpace program succeeds by supporting all children and their families, preventing disability identification, and building positive communities and relationships.
