Building Relationships with Families - Family Studies

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Department of Family Studies and Community Development

Building Relationships with Families Professional Development Program

Building Bridges Building Relationships A focus on family-professional relationships has evolved into an important area of competency for educators, related school personnel, and practitioners in health care and community agencies. Yet knowledge about families and how to work effectively with them is not inherent. Therefore, professionals who work with families need to access the empirical knowledge base underlying the collaborative process and directly apply it in authentic situations.

The Department of Family Studies and Community Development is offering a unique professional development opportunity, Building Relationships with Families through Collaboration, for teachers, school counselors, and related school professionals who are seeking to develop and advance their knowledge and skills in collaborating with families in organizational settings.

Three sequential graduate courses are offered which provide participants with experiences in case study research, family-professional relationships, needs assessment, and program development. Skills are enhanced through instruction and hands-on experience. By completing only six additional graduate credits, participants can earn a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Family-Professional Collaboration.

The program is especially beneficial for professionals who need to enhance their skills related to Public Law 99-457 and IDEA 2004, which mandate that families become actively involved in developing education plans for their children with special needs.

Course Descriptions

FMST 601	Applied Family Relationships	3 Units
Applied Family Relationships introduces the student to family relationships from theoretical, professional, and personal perspectives. They will be exposed to empirical information regarding tools and techniques used to understand and develop effective family functioning. Course requirements will include written assignments that assist in the application of course content to professional practice. This course consists of face-to-face instruction and web- and field-based experiences.
FMST 610	Family-Professional Collaboration	3 Units
Family-Professional Collaboration moves the student beyond understanding personal relationships and focuses upon the development of collaborative relationships with school-affiliated families and other school personnel. Students will learn and practice fundamental skills necessary for collaboration such as appreciating diversity, communicating effectively, resolving conflicts, and solving problems collaboratively. They will work with colleagues to interview families about their life experiences and world views. Students will gain experience using case study methodology and qualitative research. This course consists of face-to-face instruction and web- and field-based experiences.
FMST 620	Project in Family Focused Program Development	3 Units
Project in Family Focused Program Development takes the student to the next level of involvement - the community. Students will use action research with focus group methodology to understand the needs of families in a particular school or community setting. This information will be used to develop a project to address identified needs. Course requirements will include data gathering and analysis that integrates information from a variety of sources, and a summary of the information will be used in planning for school-based family-professional collaboration. This course consists of face-to-face instruction and web- and field-based experiences.
Additional Courses to Earn the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
FMST 600 - 679	Special Topics Courses	6 Units*
Two courses designed to enhance program development skills and address family-professional collaboration in participants' schools. * This portion of the program may be individually designed based on a participant's background.

Department of Family Studies and Community Development
College of Liberal Arts Building, Suite 2210
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-5851
Fax: 410-704-3612
E-mail: fmst@towson.edu