Developing Parent Involvement Strategies
Frankie Hoover Gibson, Parent Involvement Program Specialist, Head Start Bureau
During the Parent Involvement Institute in August, everyone was given the opportunity to participate in Strategy Sessions. The purpose of these sessions was to allow participants to think about what is currently happening in their programs to stimulate parent involvement and to exchange ideas that are successful. While the plan is to compile the suggestions generated at the Institute into a handbook to be distributed to all local programs, it is hoped that centers will incorporate similar brain storming activities into their local planning. Head Start's goal is to create a climate where staff and parents reinvest in the Parent Involvement component of Head Start as the cornerstone of the program's uniqueness, which is reflected in everything that happens - in the implementation of all aspects of the program. This revitalization of parent involvement can happen by incorporating new strategies and ideas into programs which will create opportunities for every single parent in Head Start. Two suggested steps are:
Step 1: Review Head Start Parent Involvement: Vision, Opportunities and Strategies, a document furnished to all individuals at the Institute. (For ordering instructions, see page 19.)
This document is based on the premise that Head Start programs must establish and sustain a relationship with every family in the program. It contains three main parts which deal with the Head Start experience chronologically and incorporates the relevant Performance Standards from all component areas.
The first part, Planning and Preparation for entry into Head Start, includes the areas of program development and management, recruitment and enrollment, orientation, and screening and assessment.
The second part, Participation in Head Start, discusses the importance of providing diverse opportunities for every parent to participate through child and family development, personal development, and shared decision-making experiences.
The third part, Transitioning out of Head Start, addresses the importance of building and maintaining skills beyond Head Start that will build both family and community advocacy.
Step 2 Conduct small discussion groups that address the following issues and then develop action plans around the results.
Issues: What are the most critical messages that Head Start should strive to give parents as they enter Head Start? What are the activities being used now to make sure the message is given? What additional and different approaches should be considered?
Examples of the most frequent suggestions at the Institute: Carefully plan initial contact with each parent; make orientation an ongoing activity; put parent involvement in every job description; provide parents with needed reinforcement (i.e., one hour volunteered inclusion in a food co-op); offer pre-service and in- service training for staff regarding attitudes; pair every staff member with specific families at beginning of year and continue for entire time in program.
Sample Strategy from Parent Involvement Institute: Need for ongoing orientation: Use returning parents, past Policy Council members, children, and staff to create a video or slide presentation to use for late enrollments and new staff throughout the program year.
Issues: What are the important challenges faced in involving parents? What makes it difficult? What are the activities being used now to involve parents? What innovative approach can address on or more of these challenges?
Examples of the most frequent suggestions at the Institute: Contract with a local photographer to take family portraits at a reduced rate; encourage parents and children to "build" a book at home, bring it to the center for lamination, and read it to other children; create hands-on learning centers so parents learn about Head Start in an active way; elect some parent representatives to the Policy Council for two years for more continuity; know how to encourage parents who ask lots of questions; include FUN in parent involvement; plan camping, retreat, trust-building events; create an open, inviting, accessible place for parents to gather.
Sample Strategy from Parent Involvement Institute: Program volunteering for working parents: Establish a "loaned executive" program with parents' employers so that they are allowed release time to participate in their children's Head Start programs.
Issues: What important skills should parents have when they move out of Head Start? What are the approaches being used now to develop them? What are some different approaches that can help parents use these skills in the community beyond Head Start?
Examples of the most frequent suggestions at the Institute: Develop a "buddy" system, using community volunteers, which continues after Head Start; invite kindergarten staff to parent-run workshops on "meeting our children"; educate parents about becoming involved in the political process (i.e., attending school board/tenant council/community council meetings, or learning about the "motor-voter" law). Let parents know that their Head Start experiences are important and should be included on job resumes.
Sample Strategy from Parent Involvement Institute: Provide leadership to establish a one-stop community resource center (with one basic intake form). This center could house not only the Head Start program but wrap-around and other child care, WIC, health services, GED and university/public school offices, an observation window, and a parent gathering place.
If a center has an effective parent involvement strategy that emphasizes a different or unusual approach, Head Start is looking for ideas that are not widely known in order to share them with the total Head Start community. Send suggestions to: Frankie Hoover Gibson, Head Start Bureau, P. 0. Box 1182, Washington, DC 20013. Phone: 202/205-8399; Fax: 202/401-5916.
"Telling Their Stories Interviews with Head Start Parents"
This article can be found in the next issue of the Administration for Children and Families' (ACE) publication Children Today. In this article by Diane Carroad of the Office of Public Affairs, ACF, Washington, DC, some of the parents with whom she spoke at the Parent Involvement Institute in August reveal their experiences in and thoughts about Head Start. Copies of the magazine will be sent to all Head Start programs.