May 2025

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends,


Thank you to everyone who joined us for the launch of CA-FEN’s Strategic Plan. It was an energizing moment for our network and a reminder of how far we’ve come since first coming together in 2019.


With the formal release of our plan, we now have a shared roadmap to transform family engagement from isolated practices into a statewide movement rooted in equity, coherence, and impact. This plan isn’t just a list of goals-it’s a call to action. A call to weave our collective knowledge into a stronger, more unified approach that supports every child and honors every family.


This new plan gives us a clear direction for the next few years. It reflects what we’ve heard from so many of you: that we need stronger connections across our efforts, more support for educators and families to work together, and a real commitment to making family engagement central-not optional-in California’s education system.


In this issue of CA-FEN Connect, you’ll find highlights from the launch presentation and examples of how our members are bringing this work to life every day.


We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful to be building this with all of you.


Warmly,

Araceli Simeón

CA-FEN Strategic Plan Launch Recap

On April 29, CA-FEN officially launched CA-FEN’s 3-year Strategic Plan during a powerful virtual gathering of members, funders, and partners. The event highlighted CA-FEN’s evolution from an informal network to a statewide coalition, grounded in shared values and a clear mission: to advance equitable, culturally responsive, and transformative family engagement across California.


Speakers from across the state shared personal stories, historical context, and reflections on why this work matters now more than ever. Together, we outlined five key strategic goals, introduced our planning team, and previewed next steps to growing our network and building shared communications and resource tools.


If you missed the presentation or want to revisit it, you can view the recording here.

Explore the slide deck here.

CA-FEN Member Spotlight

Janis Price, MS.Ed, CHES

Coordinator, Family and Community Engagement at Orange County Department of Education (OCDOE)


This month, we’re proud to spotlight Janis Price who is helping lead a powerful new network, the CA County Office of Education (COE) Practitioners Network, comprised of COE staff focused on family and community engagement. Janis and her peers from across the state have come together to form a space where COE leaders can share best practices, coordinate trainings, and align their work with statewide goals.


County Offices of Education play a unique and often under-recognized role in the family engagement ecosystem-bridging the gap between state policy and local implementation. Through this emerging network, Janis and her colleagues are laying the groundwork for sustainable, systemic change, ensuring that no matter who holds these roles in the future, the infrastructure will be in place to keep family engagement front and center.

“Before this group existed, there was no place for district staff to go when they needed help supporting families or training family liaisons.” Now, COE family engagement leads meet virtually every two months to exchange tools, troubleshoot challenges, and strengthen the technical assistance they provide to districts."


“We’re creating a system that will always be in continuous improvement to support our schools—and open the gates for families to feel like partners.”

Janis holds a teaching credential, Masters in Education and currently enrolled in a Preliminary Administrative Credential program. She started her career teaching middle school Health. She then took on leadership roles focused on partnering with families and communities to promote wellness and engagement. She leads state and county wide efforts to increase tiered family engagement through relationships, professional learning and capacity building between schools, families and partners. With two sons in high school, she finds her work more important than ever!

For more information, contact Janis Price or:

Register for Future CA COE FACE Practitioner Meetings: (May 12 & July 14 @1pm)

Family Engagement Champion?

Join CA-FEN’s New Advisory Board

Help Shape the Future of Family Engagement in California

We’re excited to announce the formation of the CA-FEN's Advisory Board—and we’re inviting passionate leaders to apply!


Following the success of our 2024 Convening and the launch of our Strategic Plan, CA-FEN is establishing a new Advisory Board to guide our next phase of growth. We’re seeking 5–9 committed individuals to help drive our mission forward.


How to Apply:

👉 Learn More and Apply

📧 Questions?: asimeon@parentnetwork-la.org

🗓 Deadline: June 15, 2025

We Still Need Your Help!

Teacher and Administrator Engagement Survey

CA-FEN's Pre-Service Committee is asking for your help in gathering valuable insights from current active teachers and administrators about their experiences working with families in schools. The statewide project, “The State of Practice”, is seeking to understand better how professional educators, practice and implement various approaches and strategies to engage families in classrooms and schools to enhance students’ outcomes. Educators will be eligible to receive gift cards for their participation.



If you know teachers or administrators who might be interested, please forward their contact information to us or share the survey link directly with them.



Thank You!

Education News & Resources

News




Resources


Policy Update: Opportunities to Take Action

Council on Foundations

COF invites all charitable giving organizations to join them in an effort to protect the freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities. They ask you sign on to the statement to show your support.  


ProtectPublicEd.org

Tell your member of Congress: Protect the Department of Education and demand that Secretary Linda McMahon do her job!


Your Voice Matters in California!

As key decisions are being made in Sacramento that affect education policy and family engagement across our state, now is the time to speak up. We encourage you to contact your state legislators—share your stories, lift up the needs of families in your community, and advocate for the resources and programs that make authentic engagement possible. Together, we can ensure that California continues to lead the way in supporting strong family-school partnerships.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

May

June


And Beyond

For more information, please visit our website at www.ca-fen.org