Engage and Excel! Strengthening Your FRYSC Advisory Council to Enhance Center Success

Cabinet for Health and Family Services The FRYSC program is built upon the foundation of collaboration.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services The Advisory Council is the catalyst for bringing all stakeholders to the table.

Importance of Councils and Impact on the Centers

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Brainstorming What attributes make an ideal Advisory Council?

Cabinet for Health and Family Services An Effective Council Engaged council Diverse council Council chair IS the chair Understanding of roles/authority Well-trained council Advocacy Creative

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Role of Advisory Council To provide a broad-based support for the center. Assist the coordinator in developing programs and activities based on needs assessment. Assist the coordinator in evaluating programs Serve as a catalyst to link home, school, and community Assist with the development of Advisory Council by-laws

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Supporting the FRYSC Hands-on involvement in center activities Promote center public relations Advocate for center in school and community Assist with center fundraising Assist in recruitment for center volunteers

Providing the Leadership: Envision a More Effective Council

Cabinet for Health and Family Services It’s up to you… The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet. -- Theodore M. Hesburgh

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Set the Tone for Effectiveness Changes in attitude, changes in latitude…

Cabinet for Health and Family Services From the beginning… Talk the talk! What do potential members hear when you talk to them about joining the Council? 1.About the importance of the Council 2.About their value as a team member 3.About their role as a “partner”

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. Dwight Eisenhower

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Walk the walk! Look for diversity …. In thinking! Build a council of “Partners” Use your advisory council Build ownership The advisory council keeps the Center “community-centered” instead of “coordinator-centered” or “school-centered”.

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Building Ownership Orient  Provide comprehensive training to new members Communicate  Keep council informed of center activities  Keep administrators and community informed of council activities Empower  Turn over some control  Give opportunities for council to express ideas Delegate  Chairperson – Is KEY *Confident? *Informed? *Empowered?  Other officers; other roles; assigned tasks

Cabinet for Health and Family Services What’s in it for ME? The Downside… With an empowered, engaged advisory council: ►It takes a little more effort ►It’s hard to give up some of that control ►They may discover the limits to their authority

Cabinet for Health and Family Services What’s in it for ME? Cont’ The Upside… An empowered, engaged, and energized advisory council: ♥Attends and participates in council meetings ♥Lightens your load ♥Supports the center

Recruitment, Training and Orientation of Members

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Recruitment Have a diverse council. Consider the school population ►Socio-economic (people who use your services) ►Gender ►Cultural ►Ethnicity

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Recruitment Finding your members ►Parents ►Community ►School Staff ►Students

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Training YEARLY ( First meeting after new contract year starts) ►Overview of council’s role ►PowerPoint ►Notebook ►Officers’ roles ►By-laws ONGOING ►Formal or informal ►New members

Maintaining an Effective Council

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Maintaining an Effective Council Introductions Agendas/Minutes Name tags Providing food Making members feel welcome and needed Networking time (meet and greet) Ask opinions Value all opinions

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Make sure pencils and paper are available Notebooks or folders for each member Council input on meeting dates/times Publicize meeting dates several months in advance End of year celebration Certificates Maintaining an Effective Council cont’

Cabinet for Health and Family Services Use member strengths and give them a role: 1. Recruitment 2. Organization 3. Solicitation 4. Creativity 5. Fundraising 6. Public Relations

Advisory Councils are truly... Partners in Progress