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.

Making Parents Partners

Who Are We?

Kenna Pruitt– Outreach & Volunteer Advocacy Mgr.

Rebecca Ramirez, J.D., M.H.A.– Associate Director for Operations

Other SPCAA employees

Where We Work?

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.CClub

People with Absolutely Nothing In Common

How To…

Build a Relationship Involve Parents in Center Events Get Parents to become Volunteers Provide Additional Programs Family Partnership Agreements

Step 1Build A Relationship

Getting to know your Parents

Ask that both parents be apart of recruitment & enrollment

Greetings– When?– How?

Personalized Phone Calls Ask for Parent’s Input

– Lesson Plans– Field Trip Ideas

What ideas do you have?

Step 2: Involve Parents in

Center Events

Parent Meetings

How to get them there?– Take a census of time options– Unique Invites

email, 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

Example: public library-use of computers/books

Parent Meetings

Keep them coming back– Sculpts-EXAMPLE– Include Children-programs– Guest Speakers

Speak to our parents (terminology, etc.)– Recognition/Successes

Home Visits

Family Support Staff & Teaching staff go together for home visit

Teacher and parent make a lesson plan for upcoming subjects

Flexible– Times– locations

Parent Activities

Art Galleries Science Fair Take Home Projects

– Examples: Transportation Parade (shoe boxes) , Grocery/Meals (brown paper sack-favorite meal)

What ideas do you have?

Step 3Get Parents to

Volunteer

Involve Parents

Let parents know they CAN stay all day– 1st day

Explain the importance of in-kind Offer multiple opportunities

– Assistants, clerical, take home– Tell ALL staff about opportunities

Recognition for work– Volunteer Banquet– Volunteer Tree

Step 4Provide Additional

Programs

Fatherhood Initiative

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

– VIDEO

Special Days

Grandparents Day Field Day Literacy Night Family Night Fall Festival

– All activities are education based

What ideas do you have?

Step 5Family Partnership

Agreements

Goal Setting Process

Activity Goals obtainable Integrated goals

– Example: insurance, attendance Encouraging Notes Follow-Up

What ideas do you have?

Email & Contact

www.spcaa.org– Employees only

NHSA Tab

Kenna– [email protected]

Rebecca– [email protected]