Institute for Innovators PACA

(Parent & Community Association)

Guide

Institute for Innovators

College & Career Academy

1 | P A C A G u i d e

What is PACA? The Parent & Community Association is an organization of parents, guardians, family

members, community residents, community organizations, and any other stakeholders who

are interested in the well-being of the children in the neighborhood, as well as their families.

Members of PACA are automatically enrolled once they attend three PACA events, and

serve a variety of roles:

Elect a PACA president who sits on the Board of Directors of Institute for

Innovators, and provides a representative voice of the community.

Provide or bring to the table services for adult members of families which benefit

them and the community. This may include homebuyer education programs, GED

preparation, workforce development programs, affordable housing programs,

healthcare services and senior services.

Serve as advocates and ambassadors of Institute for Innovators.

Help to recruit new PACA members and keep them involved.

Support with fundraising for student and family services.

PACA Goals & Structures PACA offers opportunities for families, non-profit organizations, and community stakeholders to build partnerships that will enhance the community and support families, which in turn, supports students. By enhancing access to resources for parents and families, PACA helps build the support the community needs in order to thrive.

Program Goals

1) Help promote resources which support comfortable, safe, and affordable housing that meets the physical and psychological needs of community members and promotes vibrant neighborhoods.

2) Help support and promote public and private mechanisms to provide health services that adequately meet the needs of community members.

3) Help promote adequate employment and workforce development opportunities and provide services or promote resources which assist family members with work preparedness.

4) Help promote resources and services which assist community members with meeting basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, and power.

5) Help promote and provide additional support services to parents which help them meet the educational needs and goals of their children.

2 | P A C A G u i d e

Program Structure

PACA is designed as an on-going program in which organizations give assistance directly

to parents and family members of Institute for Innovators. The purpose of such a

program is to help parents and families meet the needs which typically have an impact of

children’s education and quality of home life. By helping to provide resources which

enhance the quality of life for families of students, Institute for Innovators hopes to

mitigate any home-based obstacles which serve as impediments to students reaching their

academic potential. The partnerships between stakeholders share a common goal and a

common requirement that the program be one of commitment of organizations, families

and the school working together in a positive relationship. Therefore, the program is

based solely on the needs and resources of the community stakeholders.

Examples of PACA Activities

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

After-school GED classes, resume writing classes and job fairs.

Connection to construction training and certification programs

Job readiness training (a prerequisite to the Microsoft Office Operations and

Certified Nursing Assistant Training Programs)

Connection to culinary arts and food service training

Entrepreneurship assistance programs

AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPORT

Homebuyer education programs

Access to affordable housing, transitional housing, and homeowner tax-relief

programs

Connection to utility assistance programs

Strong community supports

Improved home conditions

Improved student outcomes

Stronger and more prosperous

families

3 | P A C A G u i d e

Connection to ex-offender re-entry programs

HEALTHCARE & ADDITIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES SUPPORT

Provide vaccinations, flu shots

Behavioral health services and family counseling

Connection to mental health and substance abuse support services

The Process for Forming a Successful Partnership Let us know you are interested: PACA is totally voluntary. A program usually begins when you let us know you are interested.

Tell us what you would like: A representative of PACA will sit down with you to discuss your needs and resources. We will review the steps necessary to form a partnership and we will listen carefully to what you and your organization want to achieve.

Set the planning in motion: We will set up a meeting with you to discuss exactly what you want and would like to accomplish as a partner. This meeting is usually the most crucial and creative part of the partnership process. A formal partnership agreement will be drawn up and signed by both partners. Once signed, each contact listed in the agreement will receive a copy. The agreement can be edited and updated at any time and is good for two years. After two years, each contact will receive a notice that it is time to renew their partnership agreement.

Partnership begins: Partnership activities which benefit both the school and the organization begins.

Program evaluation: One of the keys to maintaining a successful partnership is to monitor and evaluate the program. Each year an evaluation will be given to you to complete. This will be done on both the business and education side. Your participation is critical in the assessment of the success of PACA.

4 | P A C A G u i d e

Guidelines for Organizations

Business Partner Roles & Responsibilities The following guidelines are suggested to assist the organization partner in the development of the partnership: 1) Upper management should have an understanding of and commitment to PACA.

2) The organization designates a coordinator, or point person, with approved on-the-job time for the program. If feasible, a Partnership Committee should also be created.

3) The coordinator and any others working with him or her should identify possible resources and needs of the organization.

4) The coordinator meets with the school representative to discuss mutual support services and match resources and needs.

5) The coordinator meets with the Partnership Committee to develop an overall plan and activities.

6) Upper management and the coordinator share the overall plan and activities with employees and encourage them to be positively involved.

7) The coordinator maintains regular communication with the school and the school’s representative.

8) The coordinator maintains records that will reflect the organization involvement and be able to readily share that information in the PACA evaluation process.

Organization Executive or Organization Leader Role The Chief Executive Officer or Organization Leader must have a personal and organizational commitment to PACA. This commitment is evidenced by his/her understanding and approval of the goals of the program and communication of this commitment to all levels of the organization: Responsibilities:

• Appoint an enthusiastic, competent Coordinator

• Motivate the organization to positively participate in the program

• Allow identified resources to be utilized

• Recommend changes or additional resources to ensure success

• Stay in touch with the process and progress of the program

• Express approval and recognition of programmatic achievements and volunteer efforts

5 | P A C A G u i d e

• Confirm the organization’s commitment to the program

• Encourage recognition of the importance in developing understanding between the organization and education community

Organization Coordinator Role This person is the direct link between the organization and PACA. Experience indicates that this person is most successful if he or she is at a high enough level to make decisions, is well informed, believes in the value of the program, and has an interest and commitment to the community. Responsibilities:

• Become familiar with PACA and the PACA representative

• Keep Executive level professionals aware of the process and progress of the program

• Prepare materials, inform and recruit potential company volunteers

• Obtain support and authorization from supervisors for release of volunteers

• Arrange orientation and other training/meetings as needed

• Coordinate the organization side of scheduling, placement, time, changes and evaluation

• Arrange for organization recognition of volunteers and in-house promotion of the program

• Develop the partnership plan along with the school representative and the program supervisor

• Facilitate communication within the organization as well as between the organization and the school

• Attend periodic coordinator’s meetings

• Communicate organization participation to the PACA representative

6 | P A C A G u i d e

Organization Resource Assessment 1) What kind of training or expertise do our employees have that could be shared with low-income parents and families in Westside Atlanta? 2) Are we willing to provide release time from work for employees to take part in community service activities?

3) What resources are available for providing incentive awards?

4) What resources are available for providing workforce development programs? Affordable housing programs? Affordable healthcare services? Assistance with basic needs (food, clothing, power, etc)? 5) Do we have employees that would be willing to make presentations to families about these resources?

6) Are we able to teach mini-courses?

7) Would we be willing to develop a recognition program for outstanding families/parents?

8) What can the school do to assist us? What are our needs?

7 | P A C A G u i d e

PACA Application Thanks for your interest in School Business Partnerships. Please complete the application by clicking the link below, or visiting our website at www.instituteforinnovators.org and click “Join PACA”.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lj-Qe-nFvXHj3Psa5eD4jqu8CO1qUDQ-gsjm3Z2XyPs/viewform?usp=send_form

For further information, contact our CEO:

Aja Kweliona aja@instituteforinnovators.org (646) 287-5378