Dear Team DPS/DPS Community,
I am thrilled to share the exciting accomplishments of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) department over the past year. In partnership with our Office of Schools team, which FACE is now part of, our approach is to support schools by facilitating best practices around family engagement and leading districtwide initiatives that positively impact our communities in service Every Learner Thrives and our shared goals for students. Thanks to our team's hard work and dedication, we have accomplished so much and are poised to continue making a difference in the lives of our students and their families!
Supporting New Arrival Families
This year, FACE collaborated with various community and city partners, district departments and schools to support nearly 5,000 new-arrival students and their families, ensuring they had access to the resources and support they needed to integrate successfully into our district.
Community Partnerships and Initiatives
In collaboration with community partners, we launched four food markets within school buildings and hosted over 20 vaccine clinics across the district. These efforts have been instrumental in providing essential resources to families in need and promoting the health and well-being of our students. We set a goal to surpass the number of volunteers who partner with us and did just that by reaching over 8,000 volunteers!
Home Visits and Family Engagement
Collectively, we conducted over 9,000 home visits this year, which was 1,800 more than the 2022-23 school year. These visits have strengthened partnerships between our educators, students and families. By engaging in this collaborative experience, they each gain valuable insights into each other's worlds, enhancing students' academic success.
Serving our Community
Community Hubs have been at the forefront of empowering families and helping us live up to our mission: When Families and Communities Thrive, Every Learner Thrives! This year, 62 DPS families graduated with their GEDs, an incredible achievement that will open new doors for those families and their children. To help keep the lights on, 809 families received assistance with their electricity bills, totalling nearly one million grant dollars in funds distributed. In total, our Hubs supported 3,289 families during the 2023-24 school year.
FACE Helpline Engagement
Family Constituency Services has been a vital resource in engaging with 11,053 families over the past year. We have provided targeted support to 535 families with Tier 2 concerns, addressing specific needs and connecting them with appropriate resources.
Planning and Vision for the Future
Last school year, we established a FACE Taskforce that helped us outline our priorities for the upcoming school year and launched the development of a comprehensive family, school and community partnership plan. As part of that, we will identify and celebrate Family Engagement Bright Spots within our schools. Our goal is to continue building strong partnerships with schools and provide the necessary support to ensure the success of our students and their families.
Looking Ahead
As we kick off this new school year, remember that the FACE department is here to partner with you in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all families. We are committed to working together to help our scholars thrive and to prepare their families for success. We are creating a DPS continuum of engagement, aligning our language and intention around engaging our families and communities.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our FACE Helpline at 720-423-3054 or email us at FACEHelpline@dpsk12.org. We are here to support you, students, families and our community in any way possible.
Thank you for your continued dedication and support.
In partnership,
Adella Arredondo
Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement