Making Parents Partners

Who Are We? n Kenna Pruitt –Outreach & Volunteer Advocacy Mgr. n Rebecca Ramirez, J.D., M.H.A. –Associate Director for Operations n Other SPCAA employees

Where We Work? n South Plains Community Action Association, Head Start Division Serve 12 counties, Covering more than 10,000 sq. miles

Head Start serves 1,324 children & families Early Head Start serves 48 children & pregnant women

P.A.N.I.C Club People with Absolutely Nothing In Common

How To… nBnBnBnBuild a Relationship nInInInInvolve Parents in Center Events nGnGnGnGet Parents to become Volunteers nPnPnPnProvide Additional Programs nFnFnFnFamily Partnership Agreements

Step 1 Build A Relationship

Getting to know your Parents n Ask that both parents be apart of recruitment & enrollment n Greetings –When? –How? n Personalized Phone Calls n Ask for Parent’s Input –Lesson Plans –Field Trip Ideas

What ideas do you have?

Step 2: Involve Parents in Center Events

Parent Meetings n How to get them there? –Take a census of time options –Unique Invites n , text, colored paper and in both English and Spanish –Take Notice of Parents who WANT to be involved –Involve working parents by using committees

Parent Meetings –Provide Childcare –Provide Transportation –ASK them –Explain their role at the meeting –Let them know you NOTICED they weren’t there –Other locations n Example: public library-use of computers/books

Parent Meetings n Keep them coming back –Sculpts-EXAMPLE –Include Children-programs –Guest Speakers n Speak to our parents (terminology, etc.) –Recognition/Successes

Home Visits n Family Support Staff & Teaching staff go together for home visit n Teacher and parent make a lesson plan for upcoming subjects n Flexible –Times –locations

Parent Activities n Art Galleries n Science Fair n Take Home Projects –Examples: Transportation Parade (shoe boxes), Grocery/Meals (brown paper sack- favorite meal)

What ideas do you have?

Step 3 Get Parents to Volunteer

Involve Parents n Let parents know they CAN stay all day –1 st day n Explain the importance of in-kind n Offer multiple opportunities –Assistants, clerical, take home –Tell ALL staff about opportunities n Recognition for work –Volunteer Banquet –Volunteer Tree

Step 4 Provide Additional Programs

Fatherhood Initiative n SPCAA adopted Strong Fathers, Strong Families –Invite them, Don’t bribe them –Provide Activities –Don’t preach to them –VIDEO

Special Days n Grandparents Day n Field Day n Literacy Night n Family Night n Fall Festival –All activities are education based

What ideas do you have?

Step 5 Family Partnership Agreements

Goal Setting Process n Activity n Goals obtainable n Integrated goals –Example: insurance, attendance n Encouraging Notes n Follow-Up

What ideas do you have?

& Contact n –Employees only n NHSA Tab n Kenna n Rebecca