We are excited to share that Second Mile Development is expanding our Parent Initiative program with the opening of a new Family Engagement Center!

For years, our Parent Parties have allowed us to work alongside local schools to give parents practical tools and support to help their children succeed. The new Family Engagement Center will allow us to build on that work and reach even more families throughout Madison County.

Research continues to show just how important family engagement is to a child’s success. The U.S. Department of Education reports that family engagement has a positive impact on students, schools, and communities. National data also shows a decline in several forms of parent involvement at school in recent years, making it even more important to find practical ways to help families reconnect with their children’s education.

One of the first additions to the Center will be a Family Resource Library, filled with hands-on math, literacy, and STEM kits, educational games, puzzles, and other learning activities that families can check out and use at home—all at no cost. Resources will be screen-free, easy to use, and available with directions in both English and Spanish.

The goal is to give parents tools they can easily use. A math game at the kitchen table, a STEM challenge completed together, or a family puzzle can reinforce what a child is learning at school while also creating time for conversation, problem-solving, encouragement, and connection between a child and caregiver.

We will also bring a selection of these resources directly to our Parent Party schools, making it even easier for families to take learning home. And because the Family Resource Library will be available through the Family Engagement Center, families throughout Madison County will be able to use these resources, not just families at the schools we currently serve.

And the Family Resource Library is just the beginning. As our Family Engagement Center grows, our vision is to offer additional opportunities based on the needs of local families, including English language classes for parents and caregivers who are learning English, parent workshops, family learning activities, and connections to community resources. We want the Center to be a welcoming place where families can find practical support, build confidence, and feel more connected to their children’s education.

As we prepare to open, there are several ways our community can help us get this new space ready for families.

Donate an item. We have created an Amazon wish list with items we would love to have for the Center and our Family Resource Library. The Amazon list is simply an easy way to show what we need. Supporters are welcome to purchase an item elsewhere or donate a new or gently used item you already have at home and no longer need. We will be looking for educational games, puzzles, STEM and learning materials, supplies, and other items to help make the Center welcoming and useful for families. Click Here for Amazon Wishlist

Volunteer with us. We will need lots of helping hands as we get ready to open! Volunteer opportunities will include assembling family learning kits, organizing resources, sprucing up the inside and outside of the building, and helping with other projects as the Center comes together. Let us know if you are interested in volunteering by emailing Jenni Douthit at jennifer@secondmile.net We would love to have you!

Make a financial gift. Financial contributions will help us purchase resources, create learning kits, and continue growing the programs available through the Family Engagement Center. Gifts can be made through Second Mile’s giving page by selecting Parent Initiative as the specific ministry. Second Mile’s Giving Page

This new space is an exciting next step for our Parent Initiative department giving us more opportunities to equip parents, support children, strengthen families, and help learning continue beyond the school day.

We can’t wait to welcome our community to the Family Engagement Center and share more as we get ready to open our doors!