Handout 6: Parent Involvement Inventory
Introduction: Several factors affect the ability of parents to become involved.
Factors having to do with Life Circumstances may include:Factors having to do with Culture may include:
- Mobility (such as for migrant or homeless families)
- Work and school schedules
- Illness, disability or other physical factors affecting families
- Family disruption (such as divorce, separation or death)
- Life stages of family members (for example, whether they are teen parents or grandparents)
- Finances
- Values and belief systems
- Language
- Customs and community expectations
- Family structures and roles
- Practices and preferences
This two-part exercise will help you think about the different ways that your program implements parent involvement. It will also help you to look carefully at one parent involvement activity, to determine what challenges may stand in the way of success, and to come up with some ideas for overcoming those challenges. Please keep the above factors in mind as you do the exercises.
Exercise A: Parent Involvement Inventory Worksheet
Instructions: Exercise A will help you identify your program's strengths in terms of parent involvement. Each statement represents an idea contained in the Head Start Vision for Parent Involvement. Complete each statement, as shown in the examples at the top of the page. There is space at the end of the exercise to list program strengths that don't neatly fit in with one the statements. Fill in all of the blank lines before moving to Exercise B.
Example:
We support families facing challenges by holding orientations at convenient locations such as clinics and community centers.
Vision
1. We support families facing challenges by ______________________________________________
2. We build on each parent's strengths and interests by _____________________________________
3. We involve all staff in parent involvement by ___________________________________________
4. We identify barriers to prevent involvement by _________________________________________Opportunities
5. We support parents as primary educators by __________________________________________
6. We support parents as nurturers by _________________________________________________
7. We involve parents as advocates by _________________________________________________Strategies
8. During recruitment we show families what is unique in Head Start by _________________________
9. In orientation we build on parents' interests by __________________________________________
10. We use screening and assessment to support parents by __________________________________
11. We involve parents in program decision making by ______________________________________
12. We support families in transition by __________________________________________________Other Ways We Support Parents
By _____________________________________________________________________________
By _____________________________________________________________________________
By _____________________________________________________________________________
Exercise B: Building On Our Parent Involvement Strengths
Instructions: Look over Exercise A and pick one of your program's strengths to look at in greater depth. Write that statement in the box at the top of the worksheet. Then, in the boxes below, list some of the possible challenges to success in that area. In the next set of boxes, put down your ideas for overcoming each challenge. In the "?" sections of the worksheet, put down any questions that would need to be answered before the program could carry out your ideas.
Part of a sample worksheet has been filled out for you. Use this as a guide only. The point here is to brainstorm, to think freely. That way you can come up with a whole list of possible action plans. When you have finished the worksheet, ask on or two co-workers for their feedback. Record their comments under "Feedback."
Finally, meet with your coach to talk over what you have learned.
Sample Worksheet Parent Involvement Activity: We support families facing challenges by holding orientation at convenient locations such as clinics and community centers.
Challenges Ideas 1. Some parents working or too busy to come. Videotape orientation so parents can watch it on their own time.
Hold orientation in the evening or on weekends.
2. Some parents don't speak English. Find translators (clinic staff, H.S. program staff, parents?)
Encourage parents to bring family members who can translate for them.
Make videotapes of orientation in different languages.
Worksheet
Parent Involvement Strength: __________________________________________________________________
Challenges Ideas ? Feedback