Connect participating families to community resources and act as family-school liaisons¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article describes Compass Care staff as family advocates and liaisons who bridge the communication gap between families and schools. Caregivers found "it helpful to have a point person to talk to at their school to help them navigate the school system so that they could better support their students academically." Concrete supports included accompanying caregivers to court appointments, helping apply for government benefits, delivering groceries, and connecting families to mental health and addiction support.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Staff available to provide individualized, non-academic support beyond scheduled check-ins
• Coordination with school staff and community services

Constraints¶

• School staff noted the program reduced stigma around reaching out for help, particularly mental health resources, within one school community

Target Learners¶

• Chronically absent students and their caregivers navigating school and community systems

Target Learning Goals¶

• Caregiver capacity to support students academically
• Access to mental health and basic-needs supports

Affordances¶

• Compass Care Wraparound Program Model

Related Strategies¶

• SIG-funded parent liaisons paired with structured parent contact practices to increase family engagement
• Assign a compensated navigator to each family to connect English learner households with learning and support services

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Zimiles, J., Nakamoto, J., & Boal, A. (2025). Compass Care at Valor Collegiate Academies: Attendance program spotlight. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED677597