Leaders Investing in Family Engagement (L.I.F.E.) Program

The Leaders Investing in Family Engagement (LIFE) program focuses on leadership capacity, effective family engagement strategies, and connected supportive networks to elevate and promote strong leadership. Participating school leaders are selected through an intensive application process that assesses specific school needs in addition to individual goals. 

Family Leader Focus Groups

Family Leader Focus Groups are a series of personalized conversations with WVFEC staff and diverse families from across the state to gain insight into challenges and opportunities related to family engagement within their schools and local community. Information is aggregated and disseminated back to schools to guide visioning around family engagement efforts. 

Special Advisory Council 

The Advisory Council meets monthly and includes parents and caregivers, representatives of education professionals with expertise in improving services for disadvantaged children, representatives of local elementary schools and secondary schools, including students, representatives of the business community, and representatives of the SEA, LEAs, and core partners.

Breaking the Cycle Prevention Program

Breaking the Cycle is an evidence-based program that considers the lasting impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The program, tailored to rural communities and their needs, ultimately helps to break the cycle of addiction, abuse, neglect, and poverty across West Virginia by elevating family voice, increasing knowledge, and connecting to resources through family focused, trauma informed delivery.

Rural Voices Listening Tour

The Rural Voices Listening Tour uses the Appreciative Inquiry 4D process to help families and school/district personnel appreciate what is and imagine what could and should be as it relates to county-wide family engagement. The process invites participants to work together with Family Engagement Specialists to communicate the 4D system- Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny. 

Strategic Doing Cross-Agency Collaboration

Strategic Doing is an agile collaboration strategy that supports local ecosystems in forming collaborations quickly, moving them toward measurable outcomes, and adjusting along the way. The systemic challenges faced by West Virginia communities require the investment and action of a diverse network of stakeholders.

Connected Culture Program

The Connected Culture program is a collaborative school culture and strategic planning initiative that supports school leaders in integrating family engagement as an essential component of the school plan. The project supports actionable objectives in building a family engagement culture into school plans.

Building a Family of Leaders

The Building a Family of Leaders program is an immersive leadership program providing high-needs, rural students and families with opportunities to learn and grow in personal leadership by promoting relationship building and community collaboration. This program includes professional development for employability skills, leadership skill development, and community-based collaboration.