Whole Child & Family Engagement

The department operates a district food pantry (Helping Hands Food Pantry) and family boutiques (Hope and Home Boutique) that provide essential items to students and families in need. These services help reduce barriers to attendance and learning by providing:

• Nonperishable food items and household essentials
• Clothing for students and family members
• School uniforms
• Shoes and seasonal clothing
• Hygiene products
• School supplies
• Backpacks and student necessities
• Seasonal support items

These programs help ensure families have access to basic necessities while maintaining dignity, respect, and equitable access to resources.

The department provides direct support and advocacy for students experiencing homelessness through the McKinney-Vento program and for students in foster care. Services include:

• School enrollment and educational stability support
• Assistance removing barriers to school participation
• Transportation coordination when applicable
• Referrals to housing and community resources
• Access to clothing, food, backpacks, hygiene products, and school supplies
• Collaboration with caregivers, social workers, school staff, and community partners
• Monitoring attendance and academic progress
• Support during school transitions
• Advocacy to ensure students receive services and protections available under federal and state law

Recognizing the strong connection between attendance and academic achievement, the department works closely with families and school sites to improve student attendance and engagement. Support includes:

• Identifying and addressing barriers to attendance
• Conducting outreach to families
• Connecting families with resources that support regular school attendance
• Promoting positive attendance habits and school connectedness
• Collaborating with schools to support student success and engagement
• Encouraging participation in school and district programs and activities

The department provides direct support to students throughout the year by distributing:

• Backpacks and school supplies
• Hygiene kits
• Educational materials
• Seasonal resources
• Student incentive items
• Recognition materials that encourage engagement, attendance, and achievement

These supports help students feel prepared, connected, and ready to learn.

The department coordinates and supports a variety of events designed to strengthen school-family partnerships, build community connections, and increase family engagement. Examples include:

• Back-to-school backpack distribution events
• Community resource fairs
• Family engagement workshops
• Parent education opportunities
• School readiness activities
• Attendance awareness initiatives
• Holiday and seasonal support programs
• Student recognition and enrichment activities

One example is the district's annual Tree-Mendously Winter Event, which provides winter items, goodies, and seasonal support to students and families during the winter months. The department also supports community events and resource fairs that connect families to valuable local services and opportunities. These events help foster a sense of belonging, increase family involvement, and strengthen connections between families, schools, and the community.

To ensure all families can access available resources and services, the department supports multilingual communication and equitable access to information through:

• Translation and interpretation support
• Connecting multilingual families to district and community resources
• Sharing information in family-friendly formats
• Promoting access to programs, services, and educational opportunities

The department supports the district’s GRIP (Gang Reduction, Intervention, and Prevention) Program, which provides proactive services and positive engagement opportunities for students. Through collaboration with school sites, families, and community partners, the program focuses on fostering positive decision-making, strengthening school connectedness, and promoting a safe and supportive learning environment.

Services and supports include:

• Student mentoring and relationship building
• Positive youth development activities
• Early intervention and prevention strategies
• Attendance and engagement support
• Family outreach and support
• Referrals to school and community resources
• Collaboration with school staff to address student needs
• Promotion of positive peer relationships and school involvement

The GRIP Program helps students build resilience, develop leadership skills, strengthen their connection to school, and access supportive resources that contribute to their overall success and well-being.

The Department of Whole Child & Family Engagement works closely with school staff, community organizations, local agencies, nonprofit partners, government programs, and service providers to expand opportunities and resources for students and families.

Key partnerships include:

• Westminster Family Resource Center
• Orange County Social Services Agency
• Local food banks
• Community-based organizations
• Healthcare and wellness providers
• Nonprofit organizations
• Business Partners within the city of Westminster, Huntington Beach, Midway City and Garden Grove
• Educational and family support agencies

Through these partnerships, the department is able to leverage resources and provide comprehensive support that addresses the needs of the whole child and the whole family.

The Department of Whole Child & Family Engagement is committed to:

• Removing barriers to learning
• Increasing student attendance and engagement
• Strengthening family-school partnerships
• Improving access to resources and services
• Supporting educational stability for vulnerable student populations
• Promoting student well-being and academic success
• Encouraging meaningful family participation in schools and district programs
• Ensuring equitable access to opportunities and support services
• Supporting prevention and intervention efforts through programs such as GRIP that promote positive youth development, school connectedness, and student success

Located at Johnson Middle School, the TEFAP Food Distribution will be held on June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, and October 14 from 2:30 to 4:00 PM.

Food is distributed to those in need on a first-come, first-served basis until food runs out.

WSD partners with the Westminster Police Department for the 6th Annual Back to School Resource Fair. Held on Thursday, August 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Johnson Middle School District, students can receive:

• New Backpacks (1 per student) while supplies last
• School Supplies
• Community Resource Information
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Family Support Resources
• Infant & Early Learning
• Educational Programs
• Food Assistance Information
• Before & After School & Child Care
• Enrichment Program Info.

The Helping Hands Pantry will be held over the summer by appointment on Tuesdays:

• 8:30-9:30 AM
• 10:00-11:00 AM
• 12:30-1:30 PM

To reserve a time for the Pantry, visit the official site.

The Hope & Home Boutique, held at Meairs Elementary School, will be open during the summer to support families in need, year-round. 

The store is open on Mondays during the summer from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Our district supports both intra-district/Open Enrollment (within the district) and inter-district (between districts) transfer requests in alignment with state and local policies. Families seeking a transfer for their student are encouraged to review the guidelines carefully. If you have questions about the transfer process, timelines, or appeals, please contact Joanna Farias.

This means your student has been approved to attend the specified elementary school for the elementary grade levels only. The approval does not extend to middle school or future grade spans.

The spot is reserved only after you accept the offer within the required time frame (usually three days). If acceptance is not received by the deadline, the enrollment may be withdrawn and offered to another student.

If the District does not receive your acceptance within the stated deadline, the offer will expire, and your student will remain enrolled at their school of residence.

Being on the waitlist means the school is currently full or the program is impacted. If space becomes available, families are contacted in the order determined by district procedures.

In some cases, the District may also consider overflow options at nearby schools. If you would like to learn more about possible overflow opportunities, please contact the District Enrollment Office.

Yes, you may submit another Open Enrollment / Intra-District application for a different elementary school site while your student remains on the waitlist. Each application is reviewed separately based on availability.

Your student will remain enrolled at their school of residence unless and until a new placement is offered and accepted.

No, approval through Open Enrollment applies only to the elementary grade span that was approved. Students must submit a separate application for middle school placement, and middle school assignments are based on space availability at the time of application. Approval for elementary does not automatically guarantee placement at any middle school, including a school’s usual feeder middle school.

Please contact the Whole Child and Family Engagement Department for assistance, including questions about wait lists, overflow options, and application timelines.

If you have questions about 504 Plans, please don’t hesitate to contact our district office at (714)894-7311 Ext. 1075. Office hours and contact information can be found on our district website. As the District 504 Coordinator, we ensure that students receive the support and accommodations they need to access their education in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which includes overseeing the evaluation process, coordinating with schools on 504 Plan development as appropriate, and supporting schools and families throughout the process.

If you have questions about services for foster youth, please contact Maritza Palacios. The District Foster Youth Liaison plays a vital role in helping ensure that students in foster care have equal access to education, stability, and the support they need to thrive academically and emotionally.