Hawai'i Statewide Family Engagement Center​

Our purpose is to implement high impact family engagement strategies, programming and policies that build powerful partnerships among family, school, and community. We promote Family Engagement as a learning and equity strategy to improve student academic success and school improvement.
Three kids cheering.

Enroll in the HFEC Self-Paced Online Course

Introduction to Family Engagement:
The Link to Improving Student Achievement

Kids, teachers, and parents holding hands in front of a community

Learn strategies for promoting students’ learning and development with an emphasis on the role of families in supporting their children’s learning at home. Participants will be able to identify and adopt evidence-based family engagement practices that support their school’s current curriculum (within the unique Hawaiian context of the Nā Hopena A‛o Framework) in assessing and teaching ALL students, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The course is asynchronous and free

Earn a certificate after completing these course requirements: 

  • Five self-paced modules
  • Four multiple choice quizzes
  • One assignment
  • Post-course survey

To get started, complete the registration request form.

Course Team:

  • Instructors: Dr. Caryl Hitchcock and Victoria Timmerman
  • Instructional Designer: Lauren Lum Ho (laurenlh@hawaii.edu) – Contact Lauren for registration questions and technical support

2021 Spring Family Engagement Strategy Showcase

Session 1: Supporting Micronesian Families in Hawai’i Webinar

The Hawai’i Statewide Family Engagement Center (HFEC) is pleased to present a mini professional development series to showcase evidence-based family engagement programs and strategies to schools and complex areas across Hawai’i. 

To view the other videos in our series visit our HFEC YouTube channel

View Upcoming and Archived Family Engagement- professional learning webinars. 

What is Family Engagement?

Our center has adopted the Dual Capacity-Building Framework and the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE) definition of family engagement: 

  • Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community agencies and organizations are committed to reaching out to engage families in meaningful ways and in which families are committed to actively supporting their children’s learning and development.
  • Family engagement is continuous across a child’s life and entails enduring commitment but changing parent roles as children mature into young adulthood.
  • Effective family engagement cuts across and reinforces learning in the multiple settings where children learn- at home, in prekindergarten programs, in school, in after school programs, in faith-based institutions, and in the community.

Our Mission

To promote high impact activities and policies that build powerful partnerships among family, school, and community in order to enhance child development and student achievement. 

Our Goal

To support and strengthen the three spheres of influence that contribute to student success: Family, School, Community.

Featured Posts

What is family engagement?
Downloadables

What is Family Engagement?

Educator Resource Learn about family engagement. Our Center has adopted the Dual Capacity-Building Framework and the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement’s definition.

Five essential roles of family engagement infographic
Downloadables

The Five Essential Roles of Family Engagement

Educator Resource Understand the five essential roles of family engagement as a high impact strategy for educators and schools! Download the Infographic! Text-Only Infographic!

Cover page of the Family Engagement Transition Toolkit with a sky view image of the blue ocean waves crashing onto the sand
College & Career Readiness

Family Engagement Transition Toolkit

Family Resource Family Engagement Transition Toolkit, Jobs Now Partnership Project  The Family Engagement Transition Toolkit is designed especially for emerging young adults with disabilities to utilize

Flyer with details and registration link for the Foosteps to Transition Fair 2022
Family Resources: All Ages

2022 Annual Footsteps to Transition Fair

Family Resource About this Event The 9th annual Footsteps to Transition Fair 2022 will be hosted virtually on the meeting platform Zoom this Saturday, February

The Covid-19 vaccine helps protect you and your family. A safe and effective vaccine to protect against covid-19 is now available - from the CDC
All Ages

COVID-19 Vaccinations for Keiki

Family Resource Keiki ages 5-11 are now eligible for COVID-19 Vaccinations!  What to expect: COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11- Infographic Ready to schedule