Participation of parents and caregivers in the early stages of a child’s life is one of the best ways to ensure a child’s success. Parents and guardians are the first and best educator of their child. Parent Involvement in our programs is integrated in the classroom and in the administration.
Parents are encouraged to get involved in the program. Some ways to participate include helping in the classroom, giving input to curriculum, attending monthly parent meetings, and participating in a variety of Advisory Committees. For families enrolled in the Head Start Program, parents are given the opportunity to participate in program governance and decision making in the Policy Council.
The involvement of both parents in their children’s educational experience helps the children reach their full potential. The goal of the Fatherhood program is to provide fathers with opportunities to improve their lives so that they can improve the lives of their children. The Policy Council has established a Male Involvement Committee whose purpose is to plan activities that will encourage the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children and family.
What is the Family Partnership Agreement?
A Family Partnership Agreement is the process of identifying the strengths and interests and needed resources of each family and assisting them in setting and achieving their goals. It begins upon enrollment with a Parent Interest Survey. Later, when the family feels comfortable with the Comprehensive Services staff, they will sit down together to plan goals and the steps to achieve those goals, and identify appropriate community resources.
What’s in it for me?
Family and Children Services (FACS) programs require that we have parents involved in nearly every aspect of our programs. We welcome parents to help in the classes, we offer internships for office skills, and we hire parents as Teacher Assistant Trainees. Parents plan activities for parent meetings and we have parents who are elected from each center on a County-Wide Policy Council. Parents can use this work experience on job and college applications. The most important benefit of all, is the look of pride on your child’s face when he/she see his/her parents involved in their school. You are the biggest influence your child will ever have. When you value their educational experiences enough to get involved, your child will learn how important learning is and they will be well along the road to success.