Communication between schools and families is primarily initiated and sustained by teachers, support staff, specialists and administrative personnel. Community partners also play a crucial role in facilitating this communication. With their direct access to families and the resources they bring to support them, Health and Social Services (HSS) partners can be valuable allies for schools. However, their contributions are often underappreciated and not fully understood. This study aims to document the role of HSS partners in facilitating school-family communication in preschool settings. Individual interviews lasting approximately 60 minutes were conducted with 12 partners from HSS organizations in 3 regions of Quebec (Canada). A thematic analysis using NVivo software was employed. Several key roles emerged, including that of informant, mediator, and resource provider. Partners often act as informants, providing valuable insights into the needs and realities of families to school staff. They also serve as mediators during interactions between families and school staff, particularly in the development of individualized education plans or when discussing practices adopted with children. Additionally, they provide schools with resources to support the families they serve, such as translation services. The ensuing discussion will explore avenues to enhance recognition and optimize collaboration between schools and community partners.

Authors:
Julie Poissant, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
Josée Charette, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada
Arianne Perron-Martel, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Poissant is currently a professor in education and psychologie at the Université du Québec à Montréal (Québec, Canada).

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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