Keep Connected Session Materials
Below are links to the materials you need to facilitate each session of Keep Connected—whether online or in person. Download the material you need to facilitate each session.
Keep Connected Online
(Four Sessions via Zoom for Parenting Adults and Youth)
General Materials
General Materials
- Keep Connected Online Start-Up Guide
- Family Workbook (English)
- Family Workbook (Spanish) TO COME
- Keep Connected Pledge and Plan for Families: Start-Up Guide and Toolkit (English)
- Keep Connected Pledge and Plan for Families: Start-Up Guide and Toolkit (Spanish) TO COME
Session 1: Thriving Through the Teenage Years: The Power of Family Relationships
Session 1: Thriving Through the Teenage Years: The Power of Family Relationships
- Facilitator’s Guide
- PowerPoint Slides
- PowerPoint Slides (Spanish) TO COME
- Facilitators: Give feedback on how the session went (after you’ve led it)
Session 2: The Power of Caring and Caring About Power
Session 2: The Power of Caring and Caring About Power
- Facilitator’s Guide
- PowerPoint Slides (English)
- PowerPoint Slides (Spanish) TO COME
- Facilitators: Give feedback on how the session went (after you’ve led it)
Session 3: In the Zone: Challenge and Support Growth
Session 3: In the Zone: Challenge and Support Growth
- Facilitator’s Guide
- PowerPoint Slides
- PowerPoint Slides (Spanish) TO COME
- Facilitators: Give feedback on how the session went (after you’ve led it)
Session 4: New Possibilities for Our Family and the Future
Session 4: New Possibilities for Our Family and the Future
- Facilitator’s Guide
- PowerPoint Slides
- PowerPoint Slides (Spanish) TO COME
- Facilitators: Give feedback on how the session went (after you’ve led it)
Keep Connected—In-Person, 7-Session Series
(Seven In-Person Sessions for Parenting Adults and Youth)
Session 1: Thriving Through the Teenage Years: The Power of Family Relationships
Thriving Through the Teenage Years: The Power of Family Relationships
Overview: This workshop introduces the Keep Connected workshop series and invites youth and parents to explore their hopes and expectations about family relationships as they prepare for the teenage years.
- Facilitators Guide
- Family Handouts (English)
- Family Handouts (Spanish)
- Extras:
- Search Institute’s research on developmental relationships and families
Session 2: You Already Care—How Do You Show It?
You Already Care—How Do You Show It?
Overview: This workshop focuses on expressing care in families, the first of the five keys to strong parent-youth relationships. Youth and parents identify specific ways they will be more intentional about expressing care in their families.
Session 3: Sharing Power—Even When It's Challenging
Session 3: Sharing Power—Even When It’s Challenging
Overview: Both youth and parents examine their attitudes toward sharing power in their relationships (the second of the five keys to strong parent-youth relationships). They identify specific steps they can take to reduce power struggles.
Session 4: In the Zone: Challenge and Support Growth
Session 4: In the Zone: Challenge and Support Growth
Overview: Youth and parents explore challenging growth in families (the third of the five keys to strong parent-youth relationships). They learn about practical ways to work in the “Growth Zone” that can motivate them to stretch and learn in order to achieve goals together.
Session 5: It's a Big World Out There—Helping Each Other Discover Possibilities
Session 5: It’s a Big World Out There—Helping Each Other Discover Possibilities
Overview: Parents and youth focus on expanding possibilities and providing support (the fourth and fifth of the five keys to strong parent-youth relationships). They examine options for how they can support each other as they each explore, learn, and grow.
- Facilitators Guide
- Family Handouts (English)
- Family Handouts (Spanish)
- Extras: Optional videos on Provide Support and Expand Possibilities
- Background information on Provide Support and Expand Possibilities
Session 6: Growing Together Through the Teen Years
Session 6: Growing Together Through the Teen Years
Overview: Families pull together the themes from the previous workshops and make a commitment together to continue their efforts to Keep Connected. They identify what they will do to make that commitment a good habit or routine.
Session 7: Celebrating Your Family’s Journey Together—The Graduation
Overview: Families participate in a graduation celebration in which they receive certificates of completion and share in a pledge to keep connected.
NOTE: You may choose to encourage families to invite their other family members and key supporters to join them for this final graduation celebration.
- Facilitators Guide
- Template for graduation ceremony program (English and Spanish)
- Template for graduation certificates (English and Spanish)
The Keep Connected program is brought to you by Search Institute
What is Keep Connected?
Healthy, strong family relationships are foundational to young people’s growth, learning, and well-being. These relationships build strong social and emotional strengths that kids use throughout their lives.
But great family relationships don’t just happen.
Keep Connected offers all kinds of families—and organizations that support them—ideas, activities, and experiences to help build strong family relationships. Our goal is to strengthen family relationships to help kids be and become their best selves.
Strengthen Your Family
Growing Up Responsibly
Understand Ages & Stages