¡Versión en español a seguir!
June 2022
This month at QSLA, we focus on embracing fathers and male caregivers in our early learning programs.
Did you miss any of our old Family Engagement Newsletters? You're in luck! Check out and bookmark our NEW Family Engagement Newsletter Archive!
NEW Monthly Feature: Virtual Tools:
Canva
Each month we will highlight a virtual tool that your early learning program can learn about and use with families and staff. This month, we highlight Canva. Click here to view our 1-page Quick Guide to Canva!
Staff Development and Support
Enhance Your Family Engagement Knowledge and Skills
Father and Male Engagement Trainings
Keeping fathers and male role models in mind, here are 3 professional development opportunities for you and your early learning program! From self-paced to recorded to live, you have options!
Sesame Street in Communities (SSiC) offers this FREE recorded webinar "Supporting Fathers" (30 min to 1 hr) with a certificate of completion available!
In this webinar, Kenneth Braswell, from Fathers Incorporated, shares insights and strategies to better understand how crucial fathers are to their children & families as well as how we can empower them through our work.
Note: You will need to create an account with Sesame Street in Communities in order to access this webinar recording. We are happy to emphasize that this account would also give you access to the myriad of other FREE resources and trainings SSiC offers!
The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) offers this FREE and thorough 1.5 hour webinar recording, "Talking with Fathers About Early Childhood Development & Parenting Skills," along with super accessible & valuable resources: the PowerPoint slides, webinar transcript, a ready-to-use handout, helpful resources, & more! The presenters, John Badalament (The Fatherhood Project) & Gardner Wiseheart (Southwest Partnership for Fathers & Families), share research-based tips and resources, including information on recent NRFC resources such as:
  • Tip Cards for Dads,
  • Healthy Fathers/Healthy Families,
  • The Benefits of Fathers Reading to Their Children, and
  • Working with Fathers of Special Needs Children
Our QSLA Team has partnered with the D.A.D. Project to offer FREE Family Engagement webinars on "Embracing Fathers & Male Caregivers in Early Learning Spaces" next week! What will we discuss?
  • The importance of fathers & male caregivers in early childhood,
  • What factors affect how fathers & early learning programs connect, and
  • What mindsets & strategies early learning programs can use to further engage fathers & male caregivers.
Join us in English!
Tuesday, June 14th
6:00PM - 7:30PM
¡Acompáñenos en español!
Miércoles, 15 de junio
6:00PM - 7:30PM
These trainings support ECERS-R: Item 43- Opportunities for Professional Growth, PAS: Item 3- Staff Development, FCCERS-R: Item 37- Opportunities for Professional Development, and BAS: Item 1-Qualifications and Professional Development
Welcoming Environment
Ensure Your Program Feels Inviting
Father Friendly Environments
Father-friendly environments can truly help create opportunities for engagement! Our early learning programs can create an environment fathers will want to be a part of based on what they see, hear, and feel when they come into our programs. When it comes to messaging, check out this infographic by Head Start ECLKC, inspired by Zero To Three's podcast episode "The influence of fathers on young children's development"!
As for visuals, check out these wall posters and infographics representing fathers, their impact on their child's life, and more!
Consider incorporating these posters and flyers in your early learning program, particularly around the entrance, family message boards, and other shared spaces!
This video will support ECERS-R: Item 9 and FCCERS-R: Item 35- Provisions for Parents, PAS: Item 16- Family Communications, and BAS: Item 7- Provider Parent Communications.
Family Partnerships
Work with Families to Build a Stronger Program
Practical Strategies for Teaching Social Emotional Skills
Check out the variety of videos below from the U.S. Administration for Children & Families! Their stories, insights, and practices are sure to strike up inspiration in your early learning program!
This resource will support ECERS-R: Item 38 and FCCERS-R: Item 35- Provisions for Parents, PAS: Item 16- Family Communications, and BAS: Item 7- Provider Parent Communications.
Community Partnerships
Use Community Resources to Strengthen Program Quality
Sesame Street in Communities -
Dad's Resource Page
Sesame Street in Communities (SSiC) offers a page of valuable resources to celebrate and honor dads! All the options offered by Sesame Street in Communities are ideal for young children and families, as they are short, eye-catching, and easy. Consider these options:
Knowing and using these community resources will support PAS: Item 17- Family Support Involvement, BAS: Item 8-Community Resources, and NAEYC Accreditation: Standard 7-Families
Additional Father and Male Engagement Resources for Providers & Families
Each month, we respond to your needs as early educators by sharing helpful related QSLA resources as well as additional external resources.

This month: we share additional resources for your early learning program to better support fathers and male family members with specific situations. Check them out and learn together!
Are you looking for support in another area?
If you would like to share some inspiring words, click here! To see more provider perspectives, field related news, and early learning resources follow our social media accounts.
*These quotes have been edited for grammar and clarity.
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If you have questions, feedback, or ideas we would love to hear from you! Please email us at cristina.espinoza@ccala.net.