WORKING IN

FAMILY LITERACY
RESOURCE BOOKLET
 Compiled by: Danielle Gabrielli, Doctoral Student

What is the definition of a

Family?

According to the US Census Bureau (2021) the definition of the word “family”
includes: "A family is a group of two people or more (one of whom is the householder)
related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing together." The idea of the nuclear
family including a mother, father and two children is definitely a thing of the past.
While some families do maintain that structure, many families are diverse in nature.
From single parents to gay and lesbian parent structures, even to grandparents
raising children there are many different types of family structures that must be
respected and known about. Adoptive and foster families are also to be considered
every bit as important as families related by blood.

When looking at the definition more specifically, it appears as though the ability to “live
together” creates power dynamics in regards to patterns of socialization. According to
the Journal of Sociology and Socialization (2009) “Socialization is a fundamental
process through which a family acquires cultural and personal identity. Each person
undergoes natural, planned, negative, or positive socialization in his or her life,
regardless of gender or age.” Family units are perhaps the closest beings that human
beings have to express needs, goals and social connections. Families have the ability
to mold and shape the experiences for each and every individual which takes part in
the overall family unit. Families can be a positive experience, or demonstrate toxicity,
and the family unit has the ability to impact mental health overall for children for a
lifetime.

What Purpose Does the Family

Unit Serve?
According to the American Psychological Association (2019), there are specific
benefits that the “family unit” can bring to any given individual. These benefits
are known to be life long in nature and when presented in a positive light can
help pave a positive lifelong impact that will continue to the next generation of
the family.

● Family teaches you the values that guide you

● When the going gets rough, family is there
● Strong family life encourages economic stability
● Families encourage healthier eating habits
● Family offers moral and spiritual support
● Family provides love with no strings attached
● Happy families lead to happier societies and nations
● Family can give you vital advice when you need it most
● Family gives us our genetic heritage and ancestral ties
● Families show the value of solidarity during tough times
● Family helps build community spirit
● Positive family ties improve mental health
● Families show us how to form relationships and love
 ● Family gives you a material and human stake in the future of the planet
● Family helps boost academic performance

What Has Your Family History

Been and How Does It Inform
You?
“A people without the knowledge of their family, origin and culture is like a tree
without roots.” —Marcus Garvey

Knowing, recording, and preserving your family background directly impacts you,
your family, and even future generations of people you may never know.
Understanding how your past family experiences have impacted you leads you into a
position of understanding what other families are experiencing. If you grew up with a
traditional family, then you need to be sure to use extra empathy when addressing
families who are not traditional. If you came from a single parent home, you may
need to understand what a traditional family may look like and the strength of the
family unit. If you come from a background of a small number of children, and you
are working with a family of five or more children- it would prove necessary to work
harder to understand the dynamics of a large family. Given the impacts that families
have on each individual member, it is important to learn how your family has
impacted you as well. Without the knowledge of your own family experience, it
becomes impossible to be able to help other families to grow. You must first recognize
the power that your family had in your own experience. Was your family positive? Did
your family put a strain on you? How have you made sense of family and how have
you come to define the importance of family? ?Our direct views of family impact the
importance assigned to supporting the family unit. Coming from a place of
understanding and grasping your own experience will benefit you immensely in
working in Family Literacy.

What Does Literature Say About

The Influence of Family Units?
Family units are essential in the development of the individuals they serve. According to
Bazerman (2016) there are 6 direct ways in which families teach individuals to become useful,
productive citizens in the world around them. They are listed and explained further below.

Core Identity- Family teaches a sense of “Core Identity” or who the essential person is. Families are
extremely essential in the health and development of each individual. The idea of “Core Identity” is
important because it allows the evolution and growth of human beings. Schools are not alone in
creating productive citizens but families also hold that same power if not on a more influential level.

Connection- Family teaches the ideas of “connection” which includes sympathy, empathy and
emotional regulation. Connection allows the individual to understand their greater place in the family
structure and social identity which can be magnified to express in other interactions.

Compassion- Family is one of the first places in which compassion can be modeled, taught and
practiced. Family gives the love that not everyone else can give and provides support. This compassion
can be applied on a larger level to benefit society.

Resilience- Families oftentimes include support, and the ability to overcome difficult situations.
Families often have struggles that may be mirrored on the societal level. Individuals in a family may
learn lessons that make them more successful in society.

Selflessness- Families, particularly those that include siblings, share lessons of how to move away from
selfishness and oftentimes individuals learn how to share within the family unit. This selflessness can
carry over into societal situations that will benefit the greater good of society.
Self-Worth- The family teaches self-worth through the assignment of a role in the family. Families
often times can encourage one another to believe in themselves which leads to higher self worth that
can impact society.

How Do We Reach Culturally and

Linguistically Diverse Families?
According to the Coalition For Essential Schools (2022), there are six ways in which
mentors and teachers can work with families who are culturally and linguistically
diverse. Cultural diversity is defined as “the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic
groups within a society” while Linguistic Diversity is defined as “differences
concerning language”. There are many ways to work with diverse families that will
benefit them the most. Understanding multiple types of diversity and how to respect
diverse cultural norms will benefit anyone who chooses to go into Family Literacy. It is
also important to consider that many families will have a mixture of cultural and
linguistic diversity. Some families may speak a mixed language, and some families
may have multiple cultures within the same unit. Adoption and blended families allow
for diverse cultures to be represented within the family unit and therefore they should
be considered in terms of this diversity.
6 Ways To Work With Families Who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

● Respect the Uniqueness of Each Family System

● Develop a Personalized Relationship with Families
● Communicate in Culturally Appropriate Ways (Learn Through Research)
● Surround Yourself with People Who View Diversity as an Asset
 ● Learning from Others From the Community
● Evaluate The Materials Which You Are Utilizing for Their Appropriateness

What are the “Impacts” on

Family of Religion?
Some people put religion at the center of their family relationships and traditions while
others do not put as much importance on it. Religion has played an important role in
human society for many years. As a result, families have helped promote and
preserve religious beliefs and traditions. For many years, studies have examined the
way religion has affected human relationships, particularly families. According to
Johnson (1973), there are several impacts of religious participation on the family unit.

Impacts of Religion on Families

Positives of Religious Practice with Drawbacks to Religious Practice With

Families Families

● More Harmonious ● Intolerance

● Less Chances of Divorce ● Lack of Autonomy
● Emotional and Spiritual Support ● Creation of Social Conflict
● Stronger Family Ties ● Family Conflict
● Solid Set of Values

With respect to families, as you work in Family Literacy, understanding the role that
religion has in their lives can be crucial. If you do not know much about other faiths
than your own, researching the belief system that the families you work with have,
can be extremely beneficial.

How Do We Support LGBTQ+

Families?
According to the Equality Federation (2022), there are specific ways in which practitioners can
be advocates for the families that they work with who identify as LGBTQ+. There are
responsibilities that every individual can have that will lead them to supporting families in the
most effective way. Here are the guidelines from the Equality Federation.

1) Support LGBTQ+ rights organizations and advocacy groups like Family

Equality. These organizations work to protect and defend the rights of LGBTQ+
families through lobbying, legal action, and public education campaigns.
2) Get involved in local politics. Many times negative policies and laws start where
you live.
3) Support LGBTQ+-inclusive policies in your work.
4) Participate in pride events and other LGBTQ+-centered community events.
Show your support for LGBTQ+ families by attending Pride parades, festivals,
and other events that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
5) Be an advocate. Support your LGBTQ+ friends, family members, and
coworkers. If it’s safe for you to do so, speak out against hate and discrimination
when you see it.
6) Be sure to ask the parents you work with their appropriate pronouns and use
them. It is respectful to use appropriate pronouns and this includes with the
youth you have the opportunity to work with.
7) Make sure that you do not assume the makeup of a family unit, always ask first
who is in the family before assuming it is a traditional family.
8) Whether you agree or disagree with a family, make sure to support families in
their current needs given their family structure.
9) Use respectful, informed language at all times concerning the LGBTQ+
population. Demonstrating to the families that you work with that you can be an
 advocate.
10) Be open to learning from each and every family and not making stereotypes.

What Are The Parent Attachment

Styles?
PARENTING ATTACHMENT STYLES

● set clear and consistent rules and

boundaries

Authoritative ● have reasonable expectations for your

children
● listen to input from your child/children
● are generous with positive feedback

● set strict rules and expect your children

to follow them

Authoritarian ●
●
punish (sometimes severely)
have high expectations and expect that
your children will meet them. Every.
 Single. Time. (and kids do often rise to
high expectations)
● don’t encourage open communication

● You have a lot of physical contact with

your child — you hold, carry, and even

Attachment ●
co-sleep with your child.
You respond to your child’s needs
without hesitation. You soothe, comfort,
and support in order to make your child
feel safe and loved.

● don’t set strict limits or boundaries

● don’t always attempt to control your

Permissive ●
children
have few, if any, rules
● allow your children to make many of their
own decisions

It’s not “anything goes” with free-range parents

(that’s closer to permissive parenting). Free-range
parents loosen the reins, but before they do they
give their kids rules and consequences when
Free Range they aren’t followed. Free-range parents give
their kids:

● independence
 ● responsibility
● freedom
● control

● try to control many situations (out of love,

may we add)
● lack confidence in their child’s — well,
any child’s — ability to handle situations

Helicopter as skillfully as an adult would (fair

enough, perhaps)
● constantly offer guidance to their
children
● jump in to solve their children’s problems

● feel indifferent towards the child,

possibly due to situations outside of the
parents’ control
● don’t take care of the child’s physical and

Neglectful ●
emotional needs beyond the basics
can act dismissively
Parents ● lack responsiveness
● are emotionally or physically absent from
child’s life
● may be physically abusive

Takeaways
There are so many parenting styles — basically,
there are as many styles as there are parents.
Chances are you won’t fit into one category, and
 that’s okay. Your child is unique in ways that you
know best, so your parenting will be unique, too.

How Do We Support Parents

Struggling Financially?
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children: (WIC):
This program provides support for pregnant and postpartum women and
children up to the age of 5. Usually, you can get assistance with nutritional
food options.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: (TANF): According to the Office

of Family Assistance, this program provides states and territories with support
to operate programs designed to help low-income families with children.

Local Food Pantries: Locate the local food pantries that may best serve
parents, having that information up front may als allow you to help parents at
any given time as though it is commonplace.

Freecycle Groups on Facebook:

There are groups with free items for sale, in particular beds, couches, tables
and more. Locate your local Freecycle group both to help parents, but also as
an action of Environmental Justice and saving items from going to the trash.
What are Some Ways That You Can Best
Support Families With Children with
Special Needs?
According to the National Center of Special Education Research (2019) the best
way to support parents and families of those with special needs are:

Open Doors of Communication- Make sure that you are communicating with
parents in open, honest dialogue without judgment

Never Start a Discussion with Complaints- Always maintain positivity with parents,
rather than bringing in a negative vibe.

Never Criticize the Behavior of a Child- Always focus on the positives of a child
before pointing out the child’s needs.

Breakdown Information to the Parents- Make sure that as you are working with the
parents, they are understanding the material that you are presenting. Sometimes
breaking it down into steps is the most beneficial.

Do Not Directly Mention Medication- This is a sensitive topic for many parents, do
not give your views on medication, stay impartial.

Avoid Stereotyping- Do not stereotype a child by their diagnosis, instead consider

what makes them unique.
Use Person First Language- Always refer to an individual as the “person” first rather
than as their “Disability”

What Should You Do If You Hear

Negative Talk About Families in
Your Work?

Oftentimes, you will encounter a multitude of parents and each parent comes
with their own story. Though most individuals want to help families when it
comes to engaging in Family LIteracy, there are also those who are misguided
and choose to speak poorly of families. When you hear this gossip and know
that it is not a constructive or indirect benefit to the family, your best move is to
step away to make it known that you do not wish to participate in such talk.
Distancing yourself from the situation makes sure that you have acted
professionally. Much of the discussion that occurs about parents and families
can be extremely detrimental to the family and your role is to empower and
build up families. Finding the best way to face demeaning talk and negative
outcomes, by finding family uniqueness and strength. This is the ultimate goal
of your work, to empower the families that you interact with. Building families
 up through finding their unique strengths regardless of circumstances is a
golden prize.

How Can You Engage Families In

Literacy Together?
There are a multitude of ways to encourage “Family Literacy” in the home, listed below
are some of the strategies that most benefit families in terms of hands on, kinesthetic
ways to incorporate literacy in the home. Literacy should be supported in the family as
a fun, integral part of the day that is not viewed as solely extra work.

Family Dinner Book Club - Arranging family dinners to

discuss a book that family members are reading.

Audio Books- Using audiobooks to connect families around

literature in an auditory format that they can use literacy skills
of engagement to discuss.

BedTime Ritual- Reading rituals can be something that

families partake in to build good reading modeling and habits
that help children look forward to reading. Allow children to
read as well.
Vocabulary Jars- Learning new vocabulary as a family with
words in a jar, families can actively engage in literacy.

Conversation Starters- Using sentence starters to engage

with literary elements as a family, including storytelling.

Game Night- Utilizing literacy methods to use game night,

using games such as Scrabble, Neanderthal, and any game
that uses cards that can be read from.

Reading Area- Inside each home should be an area to gather

books in a relaxing area. Families can design the area however
they wish- and include diversity as well in the center.

Cook Together- Recipes can be read and shared with

families, measurements can be part as well, therefore cooking
together can be a wonderful literacy experience.

Grocery Shopping- Having a grocery list for children to read

off of, as parents shop, is an excellent way to engage in
literacy.

Reader’s Theater- Giving each person a role in the family,

reading can take place through reading a script and procity can
be practiced through the expression of language.

Stuffed Animal Puppet Theater- Utilizing stuffed animals as a

form of entertainment with children to tell stories that can be
used to assess various literacy skills.
Coping Strategies for Families.
20 Coping Strategies for Families

● Set aside time for Family

● Thankful Jar
● Make New Traditions
● Do Chores As a Family
● Eat Meals Together
● Family Meetings
● Volunteer Together
● Share Family
● Support Encourage Support
● Support One Another's Interests
● Go Together to See A Movie
● Cook Dinner Together
● Hold Religious Practices Together Such as Prayer
● Reading Together
● Writing Family Stories- In a Journal
● Schedule Times to Listen to One Another
● Find Ways To Have Fun
● Work on Compromises When Necessary
● Do An Art Project Together
● Family Karaoke Night
 Family Resources

Listed below are some family resources to

utilize with families who are in need of extra
support. These are resources from the State of
Maine and should be used to supplement the
work that you do.

National Child Abuse Hotline:

1-800-4-A-Child (422-4453)

National Domestic Violence Hotline:

1-800-799-7233

Suicide Prevention Hotline:

 988

Statewide Child and Family Related

Resources
Help locating the right information and services: 211
Maine
2-1-1 Maine connects Maine callers to health and human services available in their
communities. Services include:

● Basic needs - food, clothing, shelter

● Counseling
● Crisis intervention
● Child development
● Children's health and insurance
● Childcare
● Disability services
● Emergency shelter
● Parenting
● Maternal/child health services
● Suicide prevention
● Substance abuse education programs
● Transportation

Contact a resource specialist by dialing 2-1-1 or texting your zip code to 898-211.

Additional ways to contact:

Email: info@211maine.org

TYY: 2-1-1
 Parent Education Programs
Parent education programs help parents understand children's development and needs
while dealing with the stress of divorce or separation. More information can be found on
the Parent Education Programs page.

Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) – Kennebec and Somerset

Counties (statewide remote services are also available).

Kids First Center– Cumberland, Franklin, Sagadahoc, and York Counties (statewide
remote services are also available).

ParentWorks – Knox and Lincoln Counties (statewide remote services are also
available).

Supervised Visitation Centers*

Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC) – Aroostook County

Families and Children Together – Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties

Franklin County Children's Task Force – Franklin County

Healthy Kids – Cumberland, Knox, Rockland, and Sagadahoc Counties

Home Counselors, Inc. – Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox,

Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, and York Counties

Home to Home – Sagadahoc County

Kennebec Behavioral Health – Kennebec County

Maine Supervised Visitation Center - Cumberland County

Penquis Safe Havens Center – Piscataquis County

 Saint Andre Home, Inc. – York County

Please note: Remote visitation services and neutral child drop-off and pick-up
programs may be available. Please contact individual programs for availability.

Reunification and Facilitated Parent Visitation at the Children's Museum & Theatre of
Maine

Located in Cumberland County, the Children’s Museum & Theatre has partnered with
Home Counselors, Inc. to provide free admission and facilitate parent visitation to
parents going through reunification or who otherwise need supervised visitation
services. Contact the Children’s Museum & Theatre for more information.

*Please note that this is not a complete list.

Community-Based Family Mediation

Community-based family mediation can help parties who need mediation services in
addition to those provided by the court as part of an ongoing case, or who would like to
try and solve disagreements with mediation to avoid returning to court.

Family and Community Mediation – Cumberland County (statewide remote services

also available).

For more information on the mediation services provided by the court as part of an
ongoing case, please see information on mediation in Family Matters cases on our
website here.

Domestic Violence
24-Hour Statewide Helpline: 1-866-834-HELP (4357)

For resources for domestic violence victims in Maine, please visit the Maine Coalition to
End Domestic Violence.

Immigrant Resource Center of Maine

(207) 753-0061
 Sexual Assault
24-Hour Statewide Support Line: 1-800-871-7741

For resources for sexual assault victims in Maine, please visit the Maine Coalition
Against Sexual Assault.

Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Resources

Wabanaki Women's Coalition – (207) 763-3478

Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center – (207)
551-3639

Houlton Band of Maliseets, Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center – (207)
214-1917

Passamaquoddy Peaceful Relations – 1-877-853-2613

Penobscot Indian Nation, Domestic & Sexual Violence Advocacy Center (207)
631-4886

Children's Advocacy Centers

A Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is a facility in which professionals from many
disciplines come together to conduct interviews of children alleged to have been
sexually assaulted. Professionals involved may include staff from the Department of
Health and Human Services, law enforcement officials, medical providers, and victim
advocates. These professionals work as a team to decide the treatment, investigation,
and prosecution of child sexual assault cases.

More information on Maine's CACs may be found at: Maine Network of Children's
Advocacy Centers.

Hotlines and Resources

Alcoholics Anonymous
 24-hour Hotline: 1-800-737-6237

Housing Services (referrals to shelters and other resources)

Maine Crisis Line (MCL) (the state's crisis telephone response service for individuals or
families experiencing a behavioral health crisis or having thoughts of suicide and/or
self-harm)

1-888-568-1112 (Voice) or 711 (Maine Relay)

Narcotics Anonymous

1-833-436-6166

Office of Child and Family Services/Child Welfare (to report abuse or neglect of
children)

1-800-452-1999 (Voice) or 711 (Maine Relay)

Adult Protective Services (to report danger, abuse, neglect, or exploitation of

incapacitated or dependent adults)

1-800-624-8404 (Voice) or 711 (Maine Relay)

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)

Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

Additional hotlines and crisis numbers can be found at:

www.maine.gov/dhhs/about/contact/hotlines
 REFERENCES

Coalition For Essential Schools (2022)

Treuthart, M. P. (1990). Adopting a more realistic definition of family. Gonz. L. Rev., 26, 91.

Johnson, M. A. (1973). Family life and religious commitment. Review of Religious Research, 144-150.

Keitner, G. I., Heru, A. M., & Glick, I. D. (2009). Clinical manual of couples and family therapy. American
Psychiatric Pub.

US Census Bureau - census.gov

www.resilienteducator.com

6 Things You Can Do Now to Protect LGBTQ+ Families (advocate.com)

www.Equalityfederation.org

https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/family/statewide-resources.html

https://resilienteducator.com/

Taylor, D. (1995). Family literacy. Exeter, NH: Heinemann.