ABSTRACT
This chapter describes commonly cited individual and school hurdles to implementing family-school partnering (FSP). FSP hurdles may be different for each school staff and family member, depending on unique histories, traditions, cultures, and practices. School mental health professionals or FSP collaborative consultants can provide support concerning identifying and navigating both individual and school hurdles. The vignettes address the commonly cited hurdles: time, logistics, knowledge, and expectations. In addition, families have a better sense of the accuracy of their expectations for their children based on new knowledge of developmental levels. A four-hour essentials training for preservice, practicing professionals and families was designed to provide key knowledge, rationale, and practices for initiating tiered FSP. Awareness of specific evidence-based programs can save a practitioner time, lend credibility to FSP implementation, and provide relevant resources to address specific, data-identified FSP needs.
