Gaining the trust of families was the biggest challenge when Traci Alter worked in child protective services. She remembered showing up at a home unannounced with allegations that threatened the family dynamic. "It can be challenging to break down the barriers to get families to trust you and know that you are there to honor their family and protect the safety of their children," she explained.
Now as a family service advocate for Stono Park Elementary School in West Ashley, Alter sees how much those experiences have benefitted her work in the school system. “In most communities, school is a safe haven for students as well as their caregivers who want the best for their children which includes getting a well-rounded education. Working directly in the school gives me the opportunity to get to know families first by connecting with them and gaining their trust which allows me to offer support and assistance without threatening the dynamic of their family.
This can lead to beautiful, strong relationships between the families, school, and the community we all live in." Family service advocates have a positive impact on schools by focusing on student achievement and bringing family engagement into the school environment. The family service advocate will help families problem solve around attendance issues and they will help provide resources to students and families, which can directly affect a student's academic success.
"I use a variety of different strategies to build that pa.