Friends and Families
We support the desire of all parents and children to continue to grow individually and as a family through continued participation in FAST. Our portal will provide ongoing advice and modular support for those who want to improve and develop what they started. Parent graduates will receive an invitation to our portal resource facility to help them in their journey to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones.
FASTWORKS is the continuation stage of the FAST program, which is led by FAST parents. It begins within two weeks following FAST graduation and can continue for two years or more. In this component, FAST families gather monthly for activities chosen by the parents. We encourage parents to continue to add to their knowledge and skills by accessing our portal for parenting advice and for more information about the research and effectiveness of FAST. Many parents add family skills and education components to their local FASTWORKS program so they can receive continued guidance and tips as their kids grow. Our one standard content component to FASTWORKS is that parents use these meetings to maintain one-on-one time with their children.
FASTWORKS activities can take many forms, depending on the community and the parents. Some FASTWORKS programs are more formal and follow the structure of the FAST sessions, including the FAST Hello, family meal, parent group time, Special Play time, Buddy Time, and other activities. Other FASTWORKS programs are more informal. Families may plan simple multi-family gatherings at a park where each family brings food to share. Whether the FASTWORKS program is formal, informal, or somewhere in between, the goal is to empower parents to strengthen their families, to be their child's advocate, and to become leaders in their community and school. In this process, parents build bonds with each other and the schools. Parents and families build a network of social support that can not be broken.
With support of the FAST team, FASTWORKS parents plan and implement activities. Sometimes, activities are educational in nature. FASTWORKS parents identify specific topic areas they wish to learn more about, such as how to work with a child who has ADHD, how to identify mental health needs and seek appropriate assistance, or how to ensure that their children stay drug, alcohol and gang free. They then invite the FAST Community Partner, school staff, or another professional to present on these topic areas.
At the local level, several FASTWORKS groups have combined efforts with their local PTO/PTA or community centers to address community-specific issues. For example, one site worked with the schools to get more parent volunteers on the playgrounds, at lunch times, and other transitional periods when children and school staff need additional support. Another site worked with the local school bus companies to have volunteer parent aides at the bus stops and on the buses to ensure the safety of all children. It is clear that FASTWORKS parents are motivated to make their communities and schools a better place.
Nationally, FASTWORKS parent graduates have worked with community organizations, school personnel, national non-profit organizations, federal agencies, and other parent leaders not involved with FAST. From 2000 to 2004, FASTWORKS parents worked with these groups and individuals to plan and implement two national parent conferences and two international parent leadership conferences, providing opportunities for parents worldwide to come together and learn from and grow with one another.
Please contact us for more information on how to start a FAST program.
