Opening General Session

Coming Soon

It Takes a Village: Strengthening Family Engagement Through Community Outreach and Collaboration with Leiann Vergara, Victoria Enciso and Melissa Gonzalez 

How do we build a village of support around the families we serve? In this engaging and interactive workshop, participants will explore the powerful role that community outreach and cross-sector collaboration play in fostering meaningful family engagement. By partnering with local organizations such as health clinics, food banks, cultural centers, and employment services, Head Start programs can meet families where they are and connect them with critical resources that support their well-being. Drawing on lived experiences from recruitment and outreach work in Southern California, this session will provide strategies for hosting inclusive events, building sustainable partnerships, and maintaining family relationships long after initial contact. Participants will walk away with actionable tools to strengthen their community engagement efforts and amplify the support network surrounding each family.

Building Caring Communities: Empathy in Action with Sandy Ampudia

This dynamic session explores creative ways to foster empathy, resilience, and a sense of belonging in early childhood settings. Through storytelling, discussion, and interactive activities, participants will discover strategies to help young children recognize emotions, appreciate family and community diversity, and build positive social connections. The session highlights inclusive narratives and practical tools that promote emotional development and strengthen classroom communities.

Strategic Planning for Head Start Leaders: Aligning Annual Planning and Long-term Strategic Vision with Kelvin Thomas

The annual planning process is a requirement for Head Start Programs; however, long-term visioning and effective strategic planning are a must for any successful organization to thrive in an ever changing world. Understanding how to plan, assess and improve is a journey that must be undertaken if Head Start Programs seek to thrive and not become obsolete. During this session, participants will gain an understanding of the annual Head Start planning process, learn about the Strategic Planning Framework, develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals, objectives and yearly action steps designed to bring them closer to achieving SMART goals. Leaders will engage in meaning discussions and activities designed to equip them to engage in effective strategic planning and goal setting with their own teams and gain desired outcomes.

Play & Partnership: Strengthening Families Through Community-Based Learning and Support with Socorro Pacheco

This interactive session explores two innovative, community-based programs that strengthen family engagement, encourage social connection, support early learning, and foster local partnerships: Downey City Library’s Family Playdate and Allies for Every Child’s Family Fun Fridays. Together, these programs offer replicable, low-barrier models of partnership that support Head Start’s commitment to building healthy families and healthy futures. At Downey City Library, the weekly Family Playdate creates a consistent space for caregiver-child bonding through toys, games, and multisensory experiences. In partnership with the Columbia Memorial Space Center, each session features a STEM activity that nurtures curiosity, learning, and school readiness. The program builds community, encourages joyful learning, and strengthens caregiver confidence through accessible early childhood experiences. Family Fun Fridays, created by Coco to be hosted monthly at Allies for Every Child, bring families together for themed crafts, play, and giveaways. With support from WIN and other community organizations, these events include access to food distributions, wellness resources, and developmental enrichment—all in a festive and inclusive environment. Participants will gain practical tools for launching or enhancing similar programming in their own communities and examine how libraries and family service organizations can work in tandem with Head Start programs to co-create safe, welcoming, and impactful engagement experiences for families.

Virtual Breakout Session

Coming Soon

PFCE Essentials: Building Relationships with Families

In this interactive session, we will explore the second of four modules in the Family Services Essentials Training Suite: Building Relationships with Families. This module introduces strengths-based attitudes and relationship-based practices and offers practical strategies to help staff create positive, goal-oriented partnerships with families. You will engage in new activities, including reflective exercises, creative practice opportunities, and scenarios that bring the module’s concepts to life. You will leave with concrete ideas for using this module to support family services professionals in strengthening family engagement and promoting positive outcomes for children and families.

PFCE Essentials: Family Services On-the-Job Roles and Responsibilities

This session highlights the third module in the Family Services Essentials Training Suite: On-the-Job Roles and Responsibilities. This module focuses on the day-to-day work of family services professionals and their essential role in the family partnership process. This module covers key responsibilities including recruitment, enrollment, goal-setting, follow-up, and continuous program improvement. You will engage in new activities including opportunities to practice your recruitment conversations, goal-setting activities, and explore ways to keep relationship-building at the heart of your work. Together, we will discuss how to use this module to help your family services professionals implement the six phases of the family partnership process.

PFCE Essentials: Community Partnerships and Engagement

This session highlights the fourth module in the Family Services Essentials Training Suite: Community Partnerships and Engagement. This module focuses on building and sustaining collaborative community partnerships that strengthen family and child outcomes. This module highlights the benefits of engaged community partnerships, outlines three key priorities for community engagement in Head Start programs, and offers strategies to connect families with meaningful support and opportunities. You will participate in new activities that bring this module’s concepts to life, from identifying community strengths to planning warm handoffs and exploring partnership gaps. Together, we will discuss how to use this module to help your program develop intentional, strengths-based community partnerships that respond to the unique strengths and needs of their families and communities.

Closing General Session

Coming Soon