Module One

Defining parent Involvement

Outcomes

As a result of completing this module, participants will:

Key Concepts Background Information

Parent involvement has long been a cornerstone of Head Start. Numerous parents look back at their involvement in Head Start with pride and credit their experiences in the program as a key factor in their own and their children's growth and development.

However, the interests and needs of today's parents and families are changing. Many of the strategies that Head Start programs have used to involve parents, such as volunteering in the classroom or becoming a Policy Council member, reach only a limited number of parents. New strategies are needed to ensure that all Head Start parents have opportunities to become meaningfully involved in their children's education.

To begin the process of creating more comprehensive and systematic parent involvement opportunities, participants will first be asked to create a common definition of "parent involvement." They then will be directed to recognize - and value - the many efforts they already have underway.

Activity 1: What is Parent Involvement?

Purpose: The purpose of this brainstorming activity is to help participants build upon their understanding of the influence parents have on children's growth and development, by reflecting on their own experiences.

Materials: Easel, chart paper, pens, overhead projector, Overhead 1

Process: Direct participants to reflect for a minute on this question: "What did the caring adults in your childhood - such as your parents, older siblings, close relatives, neighbors or anyone who took an interest in you as a child - do to help you grow and develop?"

Ask each participant to share one of their responses. Have participants contribute in a fast-paced, round-robin fashion until everyone has given at least one response. Do not encourage discussion at this point.

Record all responses on chart paper and post it on the wall. The range of responses may include:
  • Fed me - took care of basic needs 
  • Provided security
  • Encouraged me to do well in all areas
  • Loved me, nurtured me
  • Set good examples (for example, worked, went to church)
  • Read to me, modeled reading
  • Were politically active (for example, voted, worked for legal change)
  • Taught me how to take care of myself (for example, to cook, to clean)
  • Volunteered in the community
  • Promoted Education
  • Put the family first Disciplined me, taught me manners
  • Played with me
  • Were involved at school (for example, parent-teacher conferences, PTA)
  • Spent time with me 
  • Modeled respect for others and moral values
  • Provided me with the freedom to learn from mistakes 
  • Helped me with homework
  • Provided a safe environment

Trainer Preparation Notes:

You will likely have some participants who feel they had little or no support from their families. If so, make the point that children can grow and develop without extensive family involvement However, in such situations the children must nurture themselves or find nurturing relationships outside the family.

Debriefing

Once everyone has had an opportunity to respond, lead a discussion of the following four key statements (use Overhead 1). Relate each statement to examples from the group's brainstorming. Then ask participants to explore what each statement means, in terms of their own Head Start program. A brief discussion of each statement is included below; use this information as a guide for your discussion.

  1. Parent involvement is often a "family" affair.
    The person who is most responsible for a child's growth and development may vary. In some families it is one or both of the biological parents, while in others, it maybe a grandparent, aunt or uncle or older sibling. In some cultures and families, many family members are closely involved in a child's growth and development.

    What does this mean for Head Start?
    The term "parent" needs to be broadly defined to include any caregiver who performs parenting duties. Also, the target audience for parent involvement opportunities may vary from family to family.

  2. Parent involvement occurs in a variety of ways.
    Parent involvement is an ongoing process. Parents teach their children by what they say, what they do, and what they believe. Some involvement is formal and occurs in planned activities or programs such as Head Start. Some involvement is "informal" and occurs in the home. Both are valued types of involvement. How parents choose to become involved may vary from individual to individual.

    What does this mean for Head Start?
    Parents have an impact on their children's growth and development, whether or not they come into the center for program activities. Thus, it is essential that every Head Start program recognizes, values and supports how families choose to be involved.

  3. Parent involvement benefits parents as well as children.
    Parents are people with full lives, part of which involves being a parent. Self development opportunities (such as adult literacy, job training or Policy Council volunteering) are forms of involvement. Interest and participation in self development opportunities will vary from parent to parent. For some parents, meeting their own and their family's basic needs will be the main point of involvement.

    What does this mean for Head Start?
    Comprehensive parent involvement programs offer opportunities for parents to grow as parents and as individuals. The ways that parents choose to become involved and the degree of their involvement will vary for each person. There is no one way to involve parents.

  4. Parent involvement is everyone's job.
    Since the form and level of involvement will vary for each parent, programs should provide a wide variety of opportunities for parents and families.

    What does this mean for Head Start?
    Creating a full-range, flexible parent involvement program is an on going challenge. For a program to be successful, parent involvement must be part of every staff person's job. Every contact between staff and parents can communicate and reinforce the value of parent involvement. It is the responsibility of every staff person to reflect on the message they are communicating. It is the responsibility of management to prepare and empower staff as the supporters of parents.

If this workshop will be followed by Activity 3, let participants know that they will further explore what parent involvement means by examining Head Start's renewed vision- for parent involvement.

Activity 2: Understanding the Head Start Vision

Purpose: Head Start staff and parents have a wealth of knowledge from their personal lives and day-to-day work with families and each other. In this coaching activity, participants will draw upon their experiences and relate them to the Head Start Vision for Parent Involvement. Participants will use reflection, brainstorming, critical thinking and interviewing skills.

Materials: Handout 1

Process: Provide an introduction to this activity by covering the following points:

Parent involvement has long been the cornerstone of Head Start's success. Families speak proudly of their involvement with Head Start and the impact it has had on their lives.

Recently, the Head Start Bureau has put forth a renewed "vision" for parents in the Head Start program. It states that Head Start's vision for parent involvement is "to create and sustain a partnership with all Head Start parents."

According to this vision statement, some of the most important goals for parent involvement in Head Start are to:

Most parents come to Head Start because they want to do something good for their children. The motivation to improve the lives of their children is a critical strength that can be built upon to provide meaningful experiences for each family.

Explain that this activity will give participants an opportunity to look at what is meant by the terms educator, nurturer, advocate and policy maker, both from a Head Start perspective and their own experiences.

Give the participants Handout I, Understanding the Head Start Vision. This exercise consists of Exercise A: Caring for Children, and Exercise B: Parent Involvement in Practice.

Instruct participants to complete Exercise A first. Encourage them to spend at least 15 to 20 minutes brainstorming and to try to come up with at least 15 to 20 items for their list. Then have them move to Exercise B, where they will sort the items from their brainstorming list into categories that match concepts included in Head Start's vision statement.

Debriefing: Once participants have completed the activities in Handout 1, ask the following questions:

In closing, emphasize that parent involvement occurs in a variety of ways. It can happen formally and informally - both inside the program and outside the home and community.

Activity 3: The Head Start Vision for Parent Involvement

Purpose: Since parent involvement has always been a key to Head Start, most programs already involve parents in many different ways. This activity provides participants with an opportunity to review Head Start's renewed vision for parent involvement and reflect upon and acknowledge what they are already doing;

Materials: Easel, chart paper, pens, overhead projector, Overhead 2, Handout 2

Process: Introduce the activity by stating that while parent involvement has always been a cornerstone of Head-Start, today many programs face new challenges. These challenges may make it difficult to involve parents in meaningful ways. Traditional approaches, such as having parents volunteer in the classroom and serve on Policy Councils, do not reach all parents.

Place Overhead 2 on a projector or write the information on a flip chart. Then read aloud the Head Start Vision for Parent Involvement:

THE HEAD START VISION FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT

To create and sustain a partnership and collaboration with all Head Start parents, with goals to

  • support parents as primary educators, nurturers and advocates for their children;
  • provide every parent with opportunities for a significant experience in Head Start, and,
  • ensure that parents are involved in making policy and program decisions for the Head Start program.

State that "involvement" means different things to different people and happens in a variety of ways. To meet the challenge set forth by the vision statement, Head Start programs need to examine the opportunities and strategies they are currently using to involve parents. As a first step in this process, it is important to reflect and recognize all that is currently being done to involve parents. Just as Head Start builds on family strengths, it is important to recognize and build on program strengths.

Provide participants with Handout 2, The Head Start Vision for Parent Involvement.

Note that programs can support the goals of the vision statement by operating under the principles that appear on page 1 of the handout. Then read aloud to the group, or have volunteers read aloud, each bulleted principle.

Explain that the handout is organized into three main sections, which reflect the chronological way in which parents experience Head Start:

Tell participants that in this activity, they will be reflecting on how their program reflects these principles.

Divide participants into four groups and assign each group a number (one, two, three or four). Have them move into their groups. Post chart paper near each group that is titled as follows:

Direct participants to read their assigned section of Handout 2. You may want to ask for volunteers to read the section aloud in each small group.

After allowing time for reading, ask each group to reflect on how their program already involves parents in relation to their assigned section of Handout 2. Ask for a volunteer in each group to record responses on the chart paper.

Remind the groups that the point of brainstorming is to generate a lot of ideas quickly, not to get caught up in a lengthy discussion of any one point. Allow 10-15 minutes for brainstorming.

Reconvene the large group. Ask for a volunteer from each group to report on its discussions. Each volunteer should, in turn, present a summary of his or her small group's assigned section of the Vision Statement, as well as its list of ways that their program involves parents.

Debriefing

Ask participants to share one or two key ideas that emerged from this activity. The following questions can guide your discussion:

Close this activity by restating the concept that programs already do much to engage parents. The challenge is to ensure that opportunities are meaningful and reach out to all parents. Note that this challenge will be looked at more closely in Module 2.

Activity 4: Staff-Parent Connection

Purpose: The experiences of all Head Start staff and parents enrich parent involvement and influence the shape it takes within the program. In this coaching activity, the participants will interview a staff member or experienced parent to help them further understand parent involvement in their program. Participants will use questioning and listening skills.

Materials: Handout 3

Process: Explain that each individual's experience in parent involvement in unique. Staff may have a range of approaches for, and viewpoints on, involving parents. Parents themselves may have other perspectives. This exercise will provide participants with an opportunity to talk with co workers and parents to gain an in-depth look at how both parties view the partnership they have formed in this program.

Help participants to identify one or more people to interview -staff members and/or parents with experience in Head Start. As participants identify the people they wish to interview, ask them:

Hand participants Handout 3, The Staff-Parent Connection in Head Start.
Go over with them the instructions page, which covers: Have participants make copies of the interview' sheet for each interview they plan to do. Set up a time to meet again, which gives the participants a "deadline" by which to finish their interviews.

Debriefing

Begin discussion by asking participants to reflect on the interview process. What methods did they use to take notes during the interviews? What was hard or easy about the assignment?

Ask the participants:

Next Steps: Ideas to Extended Practice

Supervisors can encourage and support participants as they begin to apply the key ideas from this module to their day-to-day practice. Examples of activities to extend practice include:

Ask participants to speak with several Head Start parents, both male and female, and ask what they think about when they hear the term "parent involvement." Compare these responses to those heard in the work shop. Suggest that participants share their research with others who attended the workshop.

Begin to promote Head Start's renewed vision for parent involvement by getting the "word out" to parents. Make copies of Handout 1 for Policy Council members and, as a group, brainstorm strategies for getting the information in this document out to all parents.

Have participants brainstorm strategies that will both convey to and reinforce with parents the important message that they are involved with their children's growth and development whether or not they come into the center for activities and meetings.

Have participants reflect upon themselves as parents. What areas of involvement are their strengths, what would they like to change? What supports do they need to do that?


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