What Is a Family Partnership Agreement?

A family partnership agreement is a long-term process involving expectant parents or parents of infants in which the parents work with an organization to improve family communication skills and establish family goals.

The Process

The family partnership agreement process involves learning how to develop goals and documenting your progress toward those goals as time passes. An important part of this process is the development of effective family communication skills.

Family Communication

According to Family Life Works, an organization that seeks to strengthen family bonds, effective family communication requires conscience, empathy and self-control. Developing these can improve your parenting and helping you establish a healthy family life.

Services

In addition to help in identifying goals and developing strengths, family partnership agreements give families access to community and emergency resources.

Overcoming Obstacles

Among the barriers to effective parenting are poverty, a lack of education, drug addiction and poor health. Family partnership agreements try to help parents overcome those barriers.

Dual Efforts

Family partnership agreements involve dual efforts between family partnership organizations and parents. According to the Early Head Start National Resource Center, parents who put in the most effort enjoy the greatest benefits from a family partnership agreement.

References

• Early Head Start National Resource Center: The Family Partnership Agreement Process
• Family Life Works: Building Morals/Values in Children