Statewide Parent Advocacy Network START Project

Parents as Leaders in

Early Childhood: Personal Skill

Building

In this session,

we will:

● Identify leadership roles for families on decision-making groups

● Gain strategies to effectively participate in groups

● Tell your story to help define what motivates you

Parents as Leaders

Introduce yourself to a partner next to you

Share 3 things you consider yourself to be good at

Write down each on a separate post-it note, include your name

Review the list of leadership skills and qualities

Match them to the things your partner said they were good at

Add the name of leadership quality to the post-it note

Leadership Roles for Parents

Are You a Leader?

Leaders are not born

Leadership isn’t a gift

Leadership isn’t a calling

A leader is anyone who has a very BIG

and COMPELLING story

Adapted from Barbara Walsh, Family Leadership Project

The Power of a Parent’s Story

Make it personal

Set the stage

Tell what happened

Images stick

Share what impact it had

Less is more

Connect your experience to an

A

Parent’s

Story"Before, I didn't feel like I had

voice, but now I have a voice."

Where do I start?

• Where are some places you could

tell your story?

• What are some groups that are

addressing or could address the

issues you care about?

Types of Groups

About the GroupLearn about:

Mission, Purpose, & History

Style of leadership

Priorities and goals

Structure

Decision-making practices

Reminder…

Review past meeting minutes

Attend a meeting before joining

What is My Role?

Connect with the parent who served before you

Always come to the meeting prepared

Find out if the group has documents that guide the way they

operate

Ask if reimbursements or a stipend is offered

for family members

Ways to Participate and Give Input

Be prepared

Ask Questions

Offer Feedback

Offer Suggestions, Ideas

and Potential Solutions

Share your perspective

Our

Community

Nuestro

comunidad

Community Web of Support

● Who is in your circle?

● Who is outside of your circle?

● How do we connect the circles (outreach)?

Welcome Input

● create a brief survey

● go where the families are

Be Accessible

attend meetings in your community

seek out and support involvement

Communicate

be the link between families and the group

Representing other Families

Wrap-up

“Individual commitment to a group

effort—that is what makes a team

work, a company work, a society

work, a civilization work.”

Vince Lombardi

Thank you

Additional Resources - enclosed in your folder

Our Contact Information