FACE (Family & Community Engagement)

FACE's Mission and Vision

Mission

To partner with students, families, and staff to support students' specialized academic, social, and emotional needs to promote self-determination, equitable opportunities, and authentic inclusion.

Vision

To enable high-quality evidence-based strategies and supports to partner with families and school personnel for:

Family engagement initiatives in SSD and partner districts for academic and life success
Professional learning of staff around family engagement
Community outreach programs
Parent Advisory Council (PAC) support and ongoing development
Direct supports for families
Increase family efficacy through Family Leadership Institute (FLI) and family/community workshops

Family & Community Resource Center

The Family & Community Resource Center – or FCRC as it’s better known – provides just what its name promises: a vast array of special education and disability-related tools and resources for SSD families and the community at large. The FCRC’s collection includes thousands of books, journals, videos, and more.

Materials may be sent home through school mail to families whose children receive SSD services. For those not served by SSD, materials are still available for checkout but must be picked up and dropped off at either the SSD Central Office or SSD Learning Center location.

If you would like to visit the Family & Community Resource Center to browse the materials, we strongly encourage scheduling an appointment. Please contact us to schedule at 314.989.8460 or face@ssdmo.org.

Online Researcher Instructions

Online Researcher

Email to Reserve Materials

SSD Family Handbook

FACE to Face Newsletter

2025 Summer Activity Guide

When students visit places like the Zoo, Art Museum, or Science Center, they can see and experience things that cannot be experienced in a classroom. Teachers call this “building background knowledge.” Having strong background knowledge helps students be more successful in reading, as well as science, social studies, and other subjects. Visiting cultural sites in the St. Louis area with family and friends will increase your students’ background knowledge and create great memories!

FACE's Summer Activity Guide

In This Section

Our Upcoming Events

FACE Events

FACE offers a wide variety of virtual and in-person workshops, family networking sessions, and resource sessions that are available to all families in St. Louis County, regardless of if their student receives services from Special School District.

FACE events are free, unless otherwise noted. Registration is required for many of our events. Dates and times are subject to change.

American Sign Language (ASL) Series (opens in new window/tab)

Introduction to ASL, including fingerspelling and basic signs.

Family Academy

An annual event with interactive classes, community vendors, networking opportunities, and fun!

Family Cafe (opens in new window/tab)

Opportunities for families to connect and learn from each other.

Family Leadership Institute (FLI) (opens in new window/tab)

Build your knowledge of processes, tools, and available resources within the community.

Family Workshops (opens in new window/tab)

Webinars with a wide variety of topics hosted throughout the school year.

Hub Huddles (opens in new window/tab)