A collection of stories and research for STEM field leaders, practitioners, funders and more to empower families.
Parents are vital players in raising youth’s awareness of the value of STEM and in brokering their participation in activities that build STEM competencies.
STEM Next Opportunity Fund is committed to ensuring that every child – especially girls, youth of color, kids in low-income communities, and youth with disabilities – has access to STEM experiences and the social capital that lead to greater opportunities in academics and careers.
We believe family engagement is a game changer and offer this white paper to raise awareness of its importance and amplify promising practices.
Young people – particularly girls and young people from underrepresented communities – benefit when families encourage them to pursue STEM. Yet families are often unsure about what they should do, and many STEM-focused organizations do not have the resources or know-how to engage them effectively.
This guide is intended to raise awareness and build knowledge to increase grantmaker support for practice, research, and policy solutions to better support families and address the race, gender and income gaps in STEM.
The Institute for the Study of Resilience in Youth (ISRY) at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, in partnership with the STEM Next Opportunity Fund, created and studied a virtual national learning community to understand how out-of-school time (OST) programs in the U.S. are choosing, adapting, and applying strategies from the STEM Family Engagement Planning Tool.
Challenge Island
CitySprouts
Crete Cardinal Community Learning Center
Edgewood College
Growing Great Minds
Project Exploration
Project Pride
STEMEIC
YouthQuest
Explore our growing series of case studies highlighting the essential role family engagement plays in successful STEM programming.
In this case study, Drs. Kekelis and Sammet highlight the work of the Bay Area STEM Ecosystem, which aims to increase access to STEM learning opportunities in underserved communities. Both the successes of The Bay Area STEM Ecosystem–as well as the partners’ willingness to share and examine where they have room for refinements –illustrate the exemplary practice, leadership, and growth mindset of this group.
In this case study, Drs. Kekelis and Sammet showcase the work of the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). These museums are engaging families in innovative ways and making career exploration an important piece of their mission. Drs. Kekelis and Sammet interviewed leadership from NYSCI and OMSI to learn about their efforts and lessons learned in promoting career exploration with families.
Culturally responsive family engagement is both a strategy and a process that maximizes the unique strengths, interests, needs, and complexities of communities who are underrepresented in STEM. In this case study, Drs. Sammet and Kekelis highlight best practices and lessons learned from two programs – Techbridge Girls and Code Next – that serve communities with important cultural differences. This case study offers insights for both practitioners and funders of STEM programs.
How can organizations integrate parent education into their STEM programs? In this case study, Drs. Kekelis and Sammet highlight the Greene Scholars Program and Digital Youth Divas—two programs that are exemplary in their approach to empowering parents with research, education, and resources. While their program models, participants, and STEM-focus are quite different, these organizations offer promising practices that can benefit all communities.
How can we make sure that kids who are deaf, visually impaired, or physically disabled have the chance to imagine and create a bright future with STEM? In this case study, Dr. Linda Kekelis shares how STEM can empower youth, and the programs such as Deaf Kids Code that are engaging youth and their families to make STEM learning opportunities accessible and successful.
