| ROLES |
RESPONSIBILITIES |
| PARTICIPANT |
Participate in Head Start planning activities, such as orientation, open house, center/classroom committee meetings, educational, recreational, and social events. |
| LEARNER |
Observe in classrooms;
Join parent education groups;
Read about Head Start and child development;
Sign up for literacy, GED, and/or college credit classes;
Attend workshops, seminars, conferences, and talks;
Attend consumer information talks. |
| CONTRIBUTOR |
Volunteer in various aspects of the program;
Contribute ideas and thoughts for the program;
Give as much time as possible to your Head Start program. |
| SUPPORTER |
Get other parents to participate;
Interpret Head Start in the broader community;
Support all staff in their efforts;
Help out in centers whenever needed. |
| EVALUATOR |
Participate in annual program evaluation; Identify methods for strengthening program. |
| PLANNER |
Initiate and/or plan activities of interest to parents;
Identify goals for Head Start program;
Help planning process in policy groups;
Participate in refunding process. |
| DECISION-MAKER |
Participate in/attend policy group meetings;
Participate in county-wide, citywide, statewide policy group meetings. |
| PRIME EDUCATOR |
Work with your child to reinforce what s/he has learned in Head Start. |
| CHILD ADVOCATE |
Understand your child's needs and meet them;
Protect your child from injury and bodily harm;
Know and protect your child's rights;
Be an advocate for your child and other children in your community. |
| PAID EMPLOYEE |
Apply for openings on Head Start staff;
Become qualified if not already qualified;
Be an effective, sensitive, responsive staff person. |
| LEADER |
Become involved in your community (school, government, health and
human services activities);
Learn the political system and how it works;
Use any leadership skills you have learned in or outside Head Start;
Assume a community leadership role. |