Transforming Together: Implementation Guide
Family Engagement Continuum Enhancements • How does this continuum accommodate collective, Indigenous, or other cultural approaches to decision-making? • How do communities hold systems accountable when they don’t progress along the continuum?
Then, once recruited to participate, community members become better positioned to actively and constructively contribute when agency staff work to communicate clearly, invite frequent questions, and avoid use of acronyms or other “insider” phrases, among other strategies. Conceptualized and refined by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA), the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and many others, the Family Engagement Continuum offers a practical framework for government leaders to understand options for and strengthen involvement. The continuum outlines five progressive levels: Awareness, Consultation, Collaboration, Shared leadership, and Family-driven systems. Across these five levels, the role of the family in “engagement” activities evolves from receiving information (at one end of the continuum) to holding decision-making authority (at the other end of the continuum). This progression mirrors key ideas from Christine Ortiz Guzman’s work in equityXdesign, which emphasizes that process matters as much as outcomes, and that power should be intentionally shifted toward those most impacted by a system. In both the Family Engagement and in Ortiz Guzman’s conceptions, the goal is not simply to “engage” families, but to create conditions in which they are recognized as leaders, co-designers, and essential stewards of change. For government leaders and cross-agency teams like the Integrated Leadership Team, these frameworks offer a roadmap for building trust, sharing power, and designing systems that reflect the knowledge and priorities of the communities they serve.
• What happens when systems cause additional harm during engagement processes?
Realistic Engagement Expectations: Some community members want to be involved in systems-level decision making; however, most people simply want to live their lives, care for their children, and want to be able to rely on systems to operate in a user-friendly manner that allows them to have the most control possible over their life circumstances. Systems must work effectively for all community members regardless of their engagement preference. The five levels of the Family Engagement Continuum include: 1 Awareness & Information Sharing (Passive Engagement) • Concept: Families are informed about services, policies, and opportunities but are not actively involved in shaping them. • Goal: Ensure families are aware of their rights, resources, and system functions. • Examples: Websites, brochures, newsletters, automated calls, and social media updates.
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