1. Making Parents Partners

2. Who Are We? n Kenna Pruitt –Outreach & Volunteer Advocacy Mgr. n Rebecca Ramirez, J.D., M.H.A. –Associate Director for Operations n Other SPCAA employees

3. Where We Work? n South Plains Community Action Association, Head Start Division Serve 12 counties, Covering more than 10,000 sq. miles

4. Head Start serves 1,324 children & families Early Head Start serves 48 children & pregnant women

5. P.A.N.I.C Club People with Absolutely Nothing In Common

6. How To… nBnBnBnBuild a Relationship nInInInInvolve Parents in Center Events nGnGnGnGet Parents to become Volunteers nPnPnPnProvide Additional Programs nFnFnFnFamily Partnership Agreements

7. Step 1 Build A Relationship

8. Getting to know your Parents n Ask that both parents be apart of recruitment & enrollment n Greetings –When? –How? n Personalized Phone Calls n Ask for Parent’s Input –Lesson Plans –Field Trip Ideas

9. What ideas do you have?

10. Step 2: Involve Parents in Center Events

11. Parent Meetings n How to get them there? –Take a census of time options –Unique Invites n 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

12. 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 n Example: public library-use of computers/books

13. Parent Meetings n Keep them coming back –Sculpts-EXAMPLE –Include Children-programs –Guest Speakers n Speak to our parents (terminology, etc.) –Recognition/Successes

14. Home Visits n Family Support Staff & Teaching staff go together for home visit n Teacher and parent make a lesson plan for upcoming subjects n Flexible –Times –locations

15. Parent Activities n Art Galleries n Science Fair n Take Home Projects –Examples: Transportation Parade (shoe boxes), Grocery/Meals (brown paper sack- favorite meal)

16. What ideas do you have?

17. Step 3 Get Parents to Volunteer

18. Involve Parents n Let parents know they CAN stay all day –1 st day n Explain the importance of in-kind n Offer multiple opportunities –Assistants, clerical, take home –Tell ALL staff about opportunities n Recognition for work –Volunteer Banquet –Volunteer Tree

19. Step 4 Provide Additional Programs

20. Fatherhood Initiative n SPCAA adopted Strong Fathers, Strong Families –Invite them, Don’t bribe them –Provide Activities –Don’t preach to them –VIDEO

21. Special Days n Grandparents Day n Field Day n Literacy Night n Family Night n Fall Festival –All activities are education based

22. What ideas do you have?

23. Step 5 Family Partnership Agreements

24. Goal Setting Process n Activity n Goals obtainable n Integrated goals –Example: insurance, attendance n Encouraging Notes n Follow-Up

25. What ideas do you have?

26. Email & Contact n www.spcaa.org www.spcaa.org –Employees only n NHSA Tab n Kenna –kpruitt@spcaa.org kpruitt@spcaa.org n Rebecca –rramirez@spcaa.org rramirez@spcaa.org