P arent Leadership A Civic Strategy for Children and Community

Child health, learning and safety outcomes need significant improvement. Parents are marginalized as a constituency for children and as a resource for child program and policy decisions.

Bolster the skills and voice of parents as an authentic constituency for children.

The Parent Leadership Training Institute of the Connecticut Commission on Children

To enable parents to become leading advocates for children.

Parent leadership is the capacity for parents to interact within civic society with purpose and positive outcomes for children. The cornerstones of PLTI are respect, validation and a belief that when the tools of democracy are understood, parents will actively enter civic life.

Retreat to develop group and define mission ↓ 8-10 weeks on parent leadership with focus on voice, difference, values and problem definition ↓ 8-10 weeks on how change occurs for children including best practice, data analysis and model policy ↓ A community project to practice the learning within a community context ↓ Graduation at a local civic setting or State Capitol ↓ Alumni projects and trainings

Understanding personal history & impact on leadership Using benchmarks & outcome measures Thriving & working with diversity Forming useful coalitions & building community Assessing & defining problems – thinking critically Working with & engaging the opposition Using the media & public speaking Understanding policy & municipal budgets The functions of the familyBecoming familiar with city, state & federal laws

Help parent become the leaders they would like to be for children. Expand the capacity of parents as change agents for children. Teach parents the tenets of democracy and their rights to use the civic process optimally. Develop communities of parents that support one another in skills development and parent action. “Sometimes we feel that we are not heard because we are ‘just parents.’” – Parent “I wanted to learn as many leadership skills as I could and help my community at the same time.” – Parent

Develop communities of parents within child-focused institutions such as early care and education, schools, and Title V programs. Facilitate parents’ capacity to offer input into community efforts on the school, neighborhood, regional and state level. Facilitate systems change for parental involvement with increased utilization of parents in policy and process decisions. “PLTI helped me realize that I had the information to share with my community, but not the right language.” – Parent “I learned that the power of one person can make a difference.” – Parent

Community matters. Relationships are basic to change. Parents lead children. Intergenerational environments offer tutelage, spirit and natural mentorship for children. Diversity strengthens collective action. Both fathers and mothers are necessary to change. Parents are consumers and should be pivotal leaders in child and family policy. Democracy is the bridge linking the public, parents and cultures. Expectation brings response. Dignity is the backdrop to parent involvement for children.

Parents are a large and ignored constituency, ready to act on behalf of children and families. Parents provide invaluable insights about family needs and preferences. Parents can broaden public support through their informal and formal networks. Research shows that parent engagement improves school performance and community safety and reduces healthcare costs.

Influence public policy decisions Present the consumer voice Assure that programs work Spread the word about goals and outcomes Mobilize communities Bring diverse sectors together for children “I want to learn more about kids and how I can organize a group that organizes people. I want to get more people involved.” – Parent

There is a critical gap between parental desire to effect change and civic capacity. –What are the crucial variables to parent leadership success? –What leads parent empowerment to be enduring? And –What are the significant processes to bring in parents interested in child outcomes?

Knowing that each parent’s involvement matters Feeling supported, respected and acknowledged Assuring diversity among participants, facilitators and speakers Receiving hands-on training and family supports such as dinner and child care Holding trainings that can be applied to a variety of settings and policies

Acknowledging efforts and inspiring next steps Developing realistic and attainable expectations and goals Creating a safe space where parents feel comfortable and truly valued Looking at progress at every step of engagement Developing authentic parent ownership in the change process Create both horizontal and vertical strategies

 An informed and active citizenry  Benchmark 1: knowledge and interest  Benchmark 2: participation and commitment  Political order based on social equality and protection of individual rights.  Benchmark 3: social and economic equality and opportunity  Benchmark 4: tolerance and diversity  Political order based on community and individual values and needs.  Benchmark 5: our “commonwealth”

PLTI’s participating parent leaders in were racially diverse with nearly one-third Hispanic/Latino (31%), White (31%), or Black/African American (24%).

Twenty-nine percent of PLTI’s participating parent leaders in reported a total household income of $20,000 to $39,999, and almost a quarter (24%) reported a household income less than $20,000.

Before the training, fewer than half of PLTI parent leaders in understood how state government budgets or laws are made, or who served as their local or state congressional leaders. After PLTI, 89% to 95% of them had knowledge of these processes or individuals. For example, only 37% understood how state laws are made before the training, compared with 95% after completing the training.

Before the PLTI training, parent leaders indicated they rarely (from “never” to “yearly”) advocated for an issue or public policy, engaged in community organizing activities, used consensus building skills, assessed strengths and assets in their community, developed projects or programs to address community needs, or used outcome data to determine whether a program was successful. After completing the training, parent leaders showed an increase in their use of skills and participation in these activities to “monthly” or nearly “monthly.”

Before PLTI training, parent leaders indicated limited involvement with people who provide services or with elected officials about important legislation, and limited understanding of how service systems are organized in their community, how public policy affects their community, or how to obtain useful information to understand their community. After completing the training, parent leaders showed an increase in their understanding and involvement with community services and elected officials to “most of the time” or nearly “most of the time.”

Before PLTI training, fewer than half of the parent leaders had presented at community meetings, contacted local officials or circulated a petition for an important civic issue. After completing PLTI, at least half reported engaging in these activities.

1.Family civics is not a single action by a single agency, but a framework to assure the parent voice as a diverse and critical constituency for children. 2.Parents can be taught the civic skills to lead deeply and gracefully, and to impact change for children and youth. Parents can be very strong assets and family policy partners. 3.We are a nation based on service rather than civics. We service the family and neglect to partner in a shared strategy, for improvements in child health, safety and learning.. 4.Though we rely on the customer in market choices and trends, we do not rely on the customer in child policy. 5.Once parents have the skills to improve contexts and to partner for children, they become a strong consumer voice for equity, quality and access and a true gauge for what works. 6.Parents are able and willing to cross race and class boundaries for improved child outcomes. 7.It is as important to teach agencies how to work with parents as partners as it is to assure that parents have a civic toolkit for child policy. 8.Family policy, with the family behind it, offers depth and public accountability.