Sometimes a parent may want to help their child with homework or lessons but busy schedules and unfamiliarity with information gets in the way of those plans to provide support on a student’s educational path.
A new “all-in-one tool” may be the solution, according to a Cumberland County Schools release.
“Family Engagement On Demand is a tool designed to support families by providing easy, on-demand access to resources that help them engage in their children’s education,” explained Associate Superintendent Lindsay Whitley.
“While it does include content such as academic refreshers, like math lessons, its focus is broader — it’s about equipping families with a variety of resources to address not only academic needs but also social-emotional support and practical guidance to navigate other aspects of school life,” he said.
The school system partnered with Successful Innovations, a Virginia-based educational consulting firm, on the Family Engagement On Demand tool.
The resources are offered through Cumberland Family Academy, which was created in the 2020-21 school year, to offer families support in helping children to succeed in education.
The cloud-based platform provides interactive and live-streamed content that covers a variety of topics to help parents, teachers and children work together, the releases said.
Family Engagement On Demand gives families access to learning videos and the chance to take part in “expert-led sessions.”
Among the topics addressed are “Supporting Your Child with ADHD,” “Strategies to Address Chronic Absenteeism,” “Safe Clicks: Navigating Online Safety” and “AI Demystified: What Parents Need to Know for their Kids.”
The sessions are archived for on-demand viewing and families can access the videos on a mobile device, laptop, desktop or web browser as their schedules and locations permit, the release said.
“Parents are busy,” Whitley said. “They are ‘on the go’ and this is a parent-friendly resource that, regardless of whether they’re in the car-rider line or at the grocery store or waiting to pick up their child from practice, they will be able to tap into resources ranging from academic success to social-emotional support and the list goes on.”
The program has gotten positive feedback from parents with some reviews included in the release.
One is Brent Goad, the father of a student at E.E. Miller Elementary School.
“As the parent who often helps my son with his fourth-grade math homework, I see that the Family Engagement on Demand videos and tools can refresh my math knowledge and skills,” Goad said. “They seem streamlined and quite easy to find and understand.”
Zenaida Cranford has three children in the Cumberland County schools.
“I’m excited because Hispanic and Latino parents, like me, are very busy as well. Many times, when we refer to family engagement, we think of active (physically present) engagement in the schools. But with Hispanic families, time, transportation and the communication barrier often hinders us from engaging.
“Having access to FEOD will now allow us the chance to engage and take a more proactive approach to helping our kids be successful and the resources are provided in Spanish,” Cranford said in the release.
The video sessions won’t replace personal contact, Whitley said.
“It’s not meant to replace the face-to-face interactions families have with schools or school personnel, but we understand that families have busy schedules,” he said. “FEOD offers flexibility for families who still want to stay informed and involved but may need access to resources in a more convenient, digital format.”
Sessions are also designed specifically for educators, Whitley said, and help them learn to interact with families in positive ways.
The tool is free. Families and educators can sign up online.
“We’re proud to offer a resource … that truly meets our families where they are,” Whitley said. “It’s a game-changer for ensuring our families feel supported and empowered every step of the way to student success.”
