How to offer LENA Family Hub to families
1. Decide whether LENA Family Hub is a good fit for your program.
LENA Family Hub can ease the logistics of device exchange, but it is another piece of technology to support. Before offering it to families:
- Read through the LENA Family Hub FAQs to learn a bit more.
- Consider whether members of your staff can confidently:
- select families who are good candidates
- provide training/instructions
- field caregiver questions
- troubleshoot problems and technical glitches using this guide
- Be sure that families' participation in your program doesn't depend entirely on LENA Family Hub. If it doesn't work for a family, have a back-up plan.
Of course, LENA Support is here to support you and answer your questions as needed!
You can install LENA Family Hub yourself to help make this decision, and to become familiar with the parent experience! Use the download links provided below.
It's fine to install LENA Family Hub on the same computer as LENA Hub, but be aware that:
- you can't have them both open at the same time
- uninstalling either program later on will require a reinstall of the other
2. Identify which families may be good candidates for LENA Family Hub.
LENA Family Hub won't work for every family. There are technical and personal considerations.
In terms of tech, the program requires:
- a Windows 10 computer (no Macs, Chromebooks, or tablets)
- at least 10 GB free space on the hard drive
- a fast, reliable Internet connection to handle the LENA Day upload
In addition, a family is more likely to have a successful experience with LENA Hub if they:
- know how to determine whether their computer and internet meet the requirements
- are comfortable downloading, installing, and opening a computer program
- have a place in the home where the computer can be safely left running for a couple of hours each week, with the device connected
- know how to take a screen shot, in case of a technical problem
- have a way to easily contact your program staff if a problem occurs
3. Provide the download link, equipment, and instructions.
- Provide link to requirements and installer
Families can review the requirements and access the installer on the web:
English: https://www.lena.org/familyhub/
Spanish: https://www.lena.org/familyhub-es
These links are also on the parent instructions, linked below.
If a family meets the requirements, they can click a button to start the download. The download screen shows installation instructions in the same language as the requirements screen. Once installed and opened, the LENA Family Hub can be toggled to display in English or Spanish.
Although it may be tempting to provide the requirements/download link using a LENA Online custom text, remember that families cannot install the program on their phones!
Families can more easily use the link if you send it by email, in a Zoom chat, or even on a printed note included with their program materials.
- Provide equipment
Along with the assigned device, provide a high quality USB cable so the family can connect the device to their PC for transfer and charging.
If your program needs additional cables, the standard USB to USB micro cables for the current device model are available on our shop page. Devices shipped prior to 2017 will use standard USB to USB mini cables.
- Provide instructions for using Family Hub
Download and print or email instructions to parents, with your program's contact information filled in at the bottom.
In the event of a technical issue please do not send the troubleshooting guide to parents, as doing so would open up the entire support site to them. Please use it to to guide your troubleshooting.