Policy Order O-1

WHEREAS: It is a goal of the City Council to see that families are fully engaged in their children's education, health and well-being and the community; and

WHEREAS: One of the strongest predictors of success for children and youth is engaged families; and

WHEREAS: The city's vision of successful family engagement in Cambridge is genuine partnerships grounded in respect between families and the organizations and institutions that serve them; and

WHEREAS: Not all families are equally engaged or have equal access to information, support and services; and

WHEREAS: Over the last year the Coordinating Council for Children Youth and Families (a/k/a Kids' Council) has gathered information through various means and concluded that family engagement is viewed as a priority and providers are interested in collaborating with others who serve families to overcome the barriers to effective family engagement and providers are interested in collaborating with others who serve families to overcome the barriers to effective family engagement; and

WHEREAS: It is the shared responsibility of our community to reduce barriers and create the conditions necessary for families to be engaged; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That it shall be the goal of the City Council to further examine strategies to support families and strengthen relationships and partnerships between families and the organizations and institutions that serve them and develop recommendations; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Council adopts the following goals in support of family engagement. The city government will:

ORDERED: That the City Manager and the Mayor work with the Kids' Council and its members-including the Department of Human Services, School Department, Police Department, Public Health Department, the Library and community partners-to further the goal of developing effective city-wide family engagement.