The Family Enrichment Weekend is filled with pageantry and ceremony all designed to celebrate and strengthen family cohesiveness.“You had me at Hello.” That famous line from the movie “Jerry McGuire” is the essence of the first contact with each family. From the moment we say “hello” when a family calls to inquire about the Family Enrichment Weekend, the process of strengthening family cohesiveness begins. Remember the focus is on the entire family. Each family is sent a packet with information and forms that the family must return with information about each child in the family and any family needs. Copies of the forms can be accessed online using the links provided or can be found in Appendix B in the hard copy of the manual. It is important to note that there is no registration table at a Family Enrichment Event. Staff is assigned to stand at the front desk to greet the families as they check into their rooms. Each family receives a warm welcome as if they were a dear friend. They are welcomed to the event as if they were guests in your home. This is so important for families who have often faced rejection at other family gatherings in schools, religious organizations, or even by their own families. If the family has any additional forms to complete, a staff member meets with them to collect that information. The families are given a “welcome note” which is a single sheet with an overview of the evening and morning events so they will know where to go once they have checked into their room. A sample welcome note can be accessed online using the link provided or can be found in Appendix C in the hard copy of the manual.
Friday night gathering. After the families check into their rooms, they have time to get acquainted with the layout of the facility and then they join the Friday night gathering that is happening in the main room. This gathering is an essential element of the Family Enrichment Weekend because it sets the tone for the entire event. The gathering, which runs for about two hours, lets each family know that this event is ready to accommodate all the needs of their family. It is conducted by the Family Fun Guys. There are no companions on Friday evening but the entire staff attends. The youth staff and the Family Fun Guys use this time to play and observe the children and determine if there are additional behavior problems that will need to be addressed on Saturday and Sunday when the children are not with their parents. The family gathering activity may be a dance, karaoke, or family games where the parents participate with their children. Families are free to come and go throughout the activity and even take time to go swimming or do other activities that are available in the facility. Examples of family gathering activities can be accessed online using the link provided or can be found in Appendix C in the hard copy of the manual.
Opening Ceremony. The Opening Ceremony sets the stage for the next two days. It brings the feeling of unity to the group and is designed to focus on recognizing and celebrating each individual family. For many parents who have often found themselves identified as the parents of a child with a disability, this may be the first time that they are identified as simply a family and all the children in the family are given equal recognition. In addition, the opening ceremony is designed to let each family know that they are an important part of the event. The Opening Ceremony takes place in the main room where families are served a full breakfast. The room is decorated according to the theme of the event. Each table is set with a large placard in the center of the table that has the names of all the family members. The parents and children enjoy finding their place. The families are strategically placed according to their needs, for example, families with children who may be over whelmed by the speaker volume are placed away from the speakers. The staff is available to help the families locate their table. Space is left at each table for the companions who will be joining the family. All the name tags and a bag of materials for the parents are on each table. Table decorations include festive decorations of balloons and toys, as well as a family art activity that everyone can do together once they finish eating. The Opening Ceremony, conducted by the Family Fun guys, includes songs, family activities, and introductions. There is a stage set for the musicians with additional microphones so that children can come up and join in the singing at any time. Children are always encouraged to come up and join the performance. The agenda for the opening ceremony is in the Family Enrichment Weekend booklet that is placed in each parent’s bag. The booklet contains the time and location for all activities. Once the families have finished breakfast, the first item on the Opening Ceremony agenda is an opening song and family activity. The companions are marched in and walk through the room to locate the family to which they have been assigned. Families and companions are then given time to talk to each other and share any information that may not have been in the information packet that the parents completed for each child. The companions review the Children Program so that parents can see what their children will be doing across the day. After the families and companions talk, the families learn the Families Together cheer (the companions learned this during their training). Each family name is announced and the family stands to receive a welcoming cheer from the crowd. A theme song is taught to the group and the Family Enrichment Weekend is underway. At the end of the Opening Ceremony, the children attend the Children Program and the parents go to a meeting to network and share information. Moving 20 youth staff, 50 children and 50 companions from the main room would be difficult. To alleviate this problem, the parents are escorted to another room first. The children stay together and bond with their companions. Once they are comfortable with their new friends, the children are dismissed by age group to the Children’s Program activities. Programs and activities used in the opening ceremony can be accessed online using the links provided or can be found in Appendix D in the hard copy of the manual.
The Closing Ceremony. The entire Family Enrichment Weekend builds to the last 45 minutes on Sunday morning when a ceremony takes place that honors each child. The main room is rearranged to theater style. Parents are brought in early and sit in anticipation of the grand finale. The children march in wearing thematic costumes (robots, knights and ladies, movie stars, etc.). The parents rise to watch the children and their companions go up the aisle together. The audience cheers with resounding applause as the children go by. Each child takes a seat with their companion standing behind them. Thank yous are given to the companions and staff, songs are sung, performances are given by the children, and then each child receives an award. The award is presented by the companion and each award is different: the best smile, the best runner, the best laugh, the best jokes, the best singer – 50 children and 50 different awards that speak to the individual identity of each child. After every child receives an award and gift, the final moment of the Family Enrichment Weekend occurs where the families turn to the big screen and watch a DVD that replays all the activities of the Family Enrichment Weekend -- a DVD that is carefully created to ensure that each child is seen at least one time in that 10-minute replay. A sample DVD can be accessed online using the link provided. A copy is enclosed with the hard copy manual.
The Goodbye. Leaving, like arriving, is done in a way that focuses on the entire family. We say an individual good bye to each family to let them know that we have enjoyed being together and we sad to see them leave. The staff is assigned to stand by the doors as the families leave. Each family member is given a hug or a handshake when she or he leaves the room. The final words said to each family are "Thanks for coming, (Name) Family. " That final touch creates a lasting connection and those final words send them on their way as a family. From beginning to end, we recognize and acknowledge that the family is important.
