Janai Carraway Therese Credle Lakeisha Jackson Katie Pinney EDUC 520 Academic Service Learning Project The Parent Academy: Bridging the Gap Janai Carraway Therese Credle Lakeisha Jackson Katie Pinney

What is Parent Involvement? What is Head Start? Head Start is a national early childhood development program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families with children that are ages 3, 4, and 5. What is Parent Involvement? Parent and Family Core Value: “We respect that parents know what is best for their children and they seek and enjoy opportunities to connect with other parents and families”: Parent Involvement Roles: Participant, Evaluator, Planner, Decision Maker Learner, Contributor, Supporter Prime Educator, Child Advocate, Paid Employee, Leader http://famecfc.org/index.html

Barriers to the Program Linguistic differences among families 90% of families are below poverty level- lacking in financial resources. Reading levels of most families are below 7th grade making it difficult to disseminate information. Lack of culturally competent resources such as counseling, education seminars and activities. Non-citizenship causes barriers to accessing and receiving government services.

Working with Abby Mayers The Parent Academy Empowers families to grow through active learning and parent involvement. Monthly events for all families. Topics consist of: Parenting skills, health & nutrition, budgeting as well as how to have healthy boundaries within family. Working with Abby Mayers Family & Community Specialist Works with all the center staff and program volunteers Organizes Parent Academy works with educational institutions like Seattle University to complete service learning projects.

What is Family Assessment? Seattle First AME Head Start Centers: Cecilia Williams Bryant Center (CWB)  Dorothy Hollingsworth Center (DH) Home-based Programs Seattle Vocational Institute Center (SVI)  What is Family Assessment? Initial intake usually completed face to face by a care manager. A way of collecting family specific data to provide support services for families. Individual focus that families can receive to support and advocacy.

Family Assessment

Cecilia Williams Bryant Center (CWB) Demographics 92 families being served Family Composition: 57% : 2 Parent Household 42 %: Single Parent Household Parent Education: 26 %: less than high school diploma 43% : High School graduate Race: 11 % Hispanic/ Latino 56 % Black 24 % Asian 1% White Child Primary Language 19% - East Asian 46%- African 11%- Spanish 22%- English Data Analysis 1- Family Support 55% of parents want to share customs /traditions 90% of parents want to volunteer in classrooms/ field trips 60% of parents want to assist their child w/ homework 2- Family Interests: 15% Healthy Relationships 10 % Health & Nutrition 10% Budgeting & Finance * Data analysis based on a sample size of 20 family assessments

Dorothy Hollingsworth Center (DH) Demographics Serves 63 families 50% single parent home Parent Education 24% No HS Diploma 29% HS or GED 27% some college and above 62% make less than $15,000/year 68% African American Child’s primary language 34% African 42% English Data Analysis 38 Surveys Collected Child and Family Interests Parenting Budget/Finance Discipline/Behavior Continuing Education Computer ESL CNA Parent Participation Volunteering in classroom At-home work with child Recruiting Music/Art Activities

Home-Based Programs Demographic Data Analysis Relationships skills 48 families being served 66.67%: 2 parent household 54.1%: less than high school diploma Racial Identity 66% Black 12.82% Asian Primary Language 63.64%- African 14.55%- Spanish 21.82%-East Asian 0% English Data Analysis Relationships skills With focus on preventing violence Health & Nutrition Parenting Skills Assistance with learning English Employment training Basic Needs support

Seattle Vocational Institute Center (SVI) Demographics 59 families served Family Composition 39% - 2 parent family 61% - single parent family Parental Education 36% - high school graduate 42% - some college Race: 58% Black or African American Child’s Primary Language 58% - English 15% - African 14% - Spanish Data Analysis 36 Surveys Collected Interests: Meal Planning Health & Nutrition Continuing Education Family support: Volunteering in Classroom/Field Trips Sharing Skills Riding the Bus Communication: send information home with student/child

Recommendations for Future Programs and Events: Diversity training for staff Parenting Skills Workshop Create Informational flyer Teacher contact information Best dates/times for parents to volunteer in the classroom Sharing Cultural Traditions and Customs Family Potluck & Game Night Have a variety of games available along with a special dish that represents each family’s culture 4

Recommendations for Future Programs and Events: An Informational Session & Resource Night(s) featuring: Meal Planning Health & Nutrition Healthy Cooking What to Buy at the Grocery Store Continuing Education- Community College Public Transportation How to Ride the Bus What’s Available Domestic violence & counseling Budgeting and money management

“Everyone can be great because anyone can serve “Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t even have to make your subject and verb agree to serve…You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love…” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Questions?