How do you define Family Engagement?

Parents and caregivers share values promoted through Girl Scouts but don’t understand the relevance of Girl Scouts today for their daughters or their family.

Position Girl Scouts as the expert on girls through advice and parent-girl experiences.

Millennial parents actively seek expert, easily accessible guidance on and activities that support their parenting and girls’ development. Many find the amount and type of parenting information available to be overwhelming.

Provide resources that are research-based and also family-friendly in tone and messaging.

A gap exists in Parent/Caregiver levels of recognition of Girl Scout pillar skills and knowledge. Largest gap in areas at STEM and Outdoor. The majority of parents/caregivers agree that Girl Scouts helped their girl develop skills in line with the GSLE outcomes and benefited from her experiences by doing things the Girl Scout way. But there are gains to be made in all areas.

Connect parents/caregivers to the National Program Portfolio in tangible ways with view into what their girl is doing, how she is benefitting and how they can support her continued development.

Families do not have the information they need to help their girl get the most out of Girl Scouts.

Parents/Caregivers identify developing a closer relationship with their girl as a benefit of Girl Scouts, but this exists for only among little of over half of parents/caregivers. Common amongst this group is helping girl with badges outside of meetings, a troop leader who communicates well and more involvement with troop.

Assist families in bringing the benefits of Girl Scouts home and make it easier to be more involved in a way that is right for them.

Parents/Caregivers have varied preferences on how they would like to be involved in their girl’s Girl Scout Experience. Nearly 20% DO NOT want to be involved in the troop but instead prefer to stay hands off or involved only with their girl(s).

Empower parents/caregivers by taking away the pressure of being the expert and encouraging parents to allow their girls to share, show and teach what they've learned in Girl Scouts.

Troops who hold a Family Meeting to kick off the year have higher levels of satisfaction and retention. Troop Leader facilitation and parent/caregiver attendance has held steady over multiple years at below 70%.

Increase quantity and quality of Family Meetings.

Parent/Caregivers and Troop Leaders mutually cite each other among top reasons for leaving or in association with negative experiences. Gaps exist in two way expectation setting, communication and conflict resolution.

Improve and establish new communication channels and foundation for experience expectations and roles.

Parents/Caregivers want to spend more quality time with their daughters. The Cookie Program represents the program experience that parents/caregivers most frequently get involved in, but serves as mixed point of experiences and benefits.

Parents/Caregivers feelings range from fun/exciting and rewarding to time consuming, stressful and frustrating.

Craft the right way, right time for family involvement in troop activities that keep girl at the center of the experience.

Adult Girl Scout Membership for parents/caregivers is linked to higher levels of engagement in their girl’s experience. Lack of direct communication from Council Staff and Volunteers regarding joining and unclear value proposition are top reasons for not joining.

Help families and troop volunteers strike a balance during Cookie Season and reduce pain points. Explore benefits of adult memberships and communicate to parents/caregivers they can give their girl the ultimate Girl Scout experience by joining in the experience with her.

Gap exists between number of parent/caregivers who want to be involved in the troop and who are actually involved. With 72% stating they want to be and only 51% reporting they are involved gains can be made. There is also slight misalignment between ways adults indicate they would like to be involved and how they are contributing.

Shape volunteer asks and opportunities that meet the interests and preferences of parents/caregivers while aligning with the needs of the troop.

Parents/Caregivers prefer to give their time and talent at the troop level in shorter term commitments. Greater involvement in the troop experience is linked to parent/caregiver benefits. Largest differentiation between involved and noninvolved is achieved in areas of makings friends or building community, bonding with my skills/talents to help girls.

Engage girls and families in the appreciation and recognition of the contributions made by caring adults who support their troop.