5.5.4.2

Family Partnership Agreement (FPA) Family Goals

The purpose of the Family Partnership Agreement (FPA) is to partner with families by providing support in creating attainable goals (things they want to accomplish for themselves or their families) based on the information gathered through assessments, referrals, and interviews. The FPA consists of 1-2 goals, depending on a family’s desire. If one or both goals are achieved, a new goal/goals must be created.

Completing the Family Partnership Agreement (FPA) Family Goals:

• The FPA (Family Goals) are to be completed within 90 days of entry.
• Upon completion, they will be filed in the “Green” Family Services section. The Family Service section should be filed in the Parent Contact Binder (Family Workers) or the travel file (Home Visitors).
• Goals must be family oriented, and family driven. Family Services Staff support the family in creating clear, concise, and measurable goals.
• Examples:

Parent Says: “I want to go to college”
FPA goal: Katie will enroll in college classes by June 30
Action 1: Call for an appointment with admissions counselor by 12/15
Action 2: Complete online FAFSA by 1/30
Action 3: Register for classes by 6/30

Parent Says: “I want a better paying job”
FPA goal: Katie will visit the SMART Center by December 20
Action 1: Call the SMART Center and schedule an appointment by 11/15
Action 2: Arrange Childcare for Brandy by 12/1
Action 3: Attend appointment at the SMART Center by 12/20

• Family goals must be written as something they can accomplish by the end of the program year
• All goals must be entered into ChildPlus within 3 days of completion.
• Goal progress must be updated on the back of the FPA worksheet in the “Family Goal Follow Up” column and in ChildPlus at least three times per program year (January, March, and May/June) and closed upon termination from the program. (Entering and Updating FPA)
• The FPA worksheet is printed out of ChildPlus (8.1.2.1 Printing the Family Assessment Packet) and completed as follows:

• Child’s Name: ChildPlus will fill this in for you
• Date: Date completed
• Parent/Guardian name: ChildPlus will fill this in for you
• HV/FW: Name of the Primary Family Services worker supporting the family in creating their family goal.

Setting A Goal

• Ask the question (#1), what is one thing you would like to improve, change, or achieve for yourself or your family? Document their response just as they share it with you (the big dream).

• Often, their initial goals are bigger than what can be accomplished within the program year. You will need to work together to create a clear, concise, and measurable activity/goal that can be accomplished by the end of the program year. The specific and measurable goal should be related to the response to question 1 (the big dream) but able to be achieved within the program year.

For example: Maria will obtain her GED by June 1st. It should include their name, description of the goal and date (must be achievable by the end of the program year). If you answer, “Who will do what by when?” you will have a measurable family goal.

• • • Document the measurable family goal in the box in question # 2
    • If parent/guardian completes their goal prior to the end of the program year, work with the parent/guardian to support the creation of a new goal – there should always be 1-2 goals in place.
    • What will it look like for you/your family once the goal is achieved? Asking this question encourages the family to think concretely about their goal, what changes they expect to see, how their daily life might be different, and what success feels like. It supports motivation, helps identify realistic steps, and allows both the individual and the Family Services staff to ensure the goal is personally relevant and rooted in the families’ values and priorities.
    • What barriers/obstacles might prevent you from achieving your goal? Asking this question enables families to explore potential barriers that will help them anticipate what might get in the way—such as time, finances, childcare, transportation, or emotional stress. This allows for realistic goal setting and opens the door to problem-solving strategies and available resources. It also empowers the families to take ownership of the process, increases their confidence, and helps ensure that goals are achievable, not overwhelming.
    • Are you working with another agency on the above goal (# 3)? If your family is working with another agency on this same goal, working alongside the community agency will prevent duplication of services.
    • Action Steps – Ask your family, what is the first step in completing this goal? You may work with them to create a realistic time frame and provide support in developing the steps.

1. Document the person responsible for the step. This might include the family member or staff person who will support completion of the step
2. Identify whether or not help is needed (Yes/No).
3. Identify a planned completion date for each action step
4. Document the date that the action step is completed

• Obtain parent signature and staff signature. The original is placed in the Parent Contact Binder or Travel File and a copy is provided to the parent.

Back of the FPA Form

There are two columns on the back of the FPA worksheet.

• The left column is where you will document the follow-up to the “Activities/Opportunities the parent will provide for the child goals” will be documented. These goals were created with the Child Development staff during the parent/teacher conference for centers or after DRDP completion for home visitors. This is the parent portion of the child goals that parents agreed to practice at home (i.e.. reading books about toileting, practicing taking turns during game time, etc.)

• The second column is where you will document the date and follow-up on the family goal created will be documented. How is the parent/guardian doing on their goal? Do they need additional resources or support? Document additional resources or referrals needed as well as the date they were provided.

See example FPA worksheet

Steps completed in Child Plus:

• Family Services staff enter the FPA Goals in ChildPlus within three days of completing them with the family (SOP 8.1.2.3 FPA Goals)

Monitoring ChildPlus Data Input

Family Workers and Home Visitors are responsible for tracking and monitoring the Family Assessment and Family Goals using ChildPlus Reports. Refer to the following SOP’s for detailed instructions.

• SOP 8.1.4.19 Family Assessment Heat Map (FAHM) Report Instructions
• SOP 8.1.4.20 Family Services Event Monitoring (FSEM) Report Instructions