June Partners Meeting Follow-Up: Supporting the Gatekeepers Who Serve Families

Dear Reader,

Thank you to everyone who joined our June Hope4Families Strategic Partners Meeting.

A special thank you to our Spotlight presenters, Jake Hornstein, Co-Founder & Executive Director, and Greg Hill, President/CEO of Our Children Have Rights, for their insightful presentation on Co-Parent Engagement in Education.

Their presentation highlighted a challenge that extends far beyond schools.

Every community has "gatekeepers," professionals who find themselves making decisions that affect children and families. Teachers, administrators, counselors, school nurses, social workers, law enforcement officers, attorneys, therapists, judges, physicians, and clergy are often called upon to navigate family conflict, interpret competing narratives, and make decisions in real time.

Yet many receive little or no training on parenting plans, shared parenting, co-parent communication, or the dynamics of high-conflict family systems.

When professionals are left to navigate these situations on the spot, the results can be inconsistent, stressful, and sometimes unintentionally harmful to families. When they are prepared in advance through professional development and education, they are better equipped to respond with confidence, consistency, and neutrality.

One of the strongest themes from our discussion was this:

Children benefit when the adults around them are prepared before the conflict arrives.

Jake and Greg shared practical strategies for helping schools:
• Understand parenting plans and court orders
• Improve co-parent engagement with school personnel
• Utilize co-parenting communication tools
• Establish procedures that reduce conflict and support student success

The discussion reinforced the importance of proactively educating community professionals who serve as decision-makers and influencers in the lives of children and families.

Next Steps

Jake Hornstein & Greg Hill​
• Share presentation materials and resources for distribution to school districts and educational professionals

Danica Dockery​
• Obtain presentation materials and explore opportunities to share them with school districts and educational leaders throughout Florida
• Continue seeking a leader interested in championing the Building Bridges of Hope anthology project

Adina Lebowitz​
• Share presentation concepts and resources with Twin Cities communities and educational stakeholders

Vicki Parker​
• Share communication resources and information regarding Code Breaker Global

All Partners​
• Reach out to Our Children Have Rights for additional information and resources
• Consider potential guests and spotlight presenters for upcoming meetings (next is August 14)
• Continue identifying opportunities to educate and support the gatekeepers within your own communities

As always, our mission remains the same: connecting professionals, sharing best practices, and building bridges that strengthen families and improve outcomes for children.

Thank you for being part of this growing alliance.

Warm regards,

Danica Dockery, M.Ed.
Executive Director, Kids Need Both, Inc.
Managing Partner, Hope4Families Alliance