Parent Voices:Powerful Influences for Powerful Outcomes

Photo © 2011 S. Blood

From the Harvard Family Research Project: We must work together to enrich children’s learning and nurture the character traits that are essential for educational and lifelong success.

Family engagement is a shared responsibility. Schools, community agencies and organizations reach out to families in meaningful ways. Families actively support their children’s learning and development. Family engagement continues as children mature into young adulthood. Family engagement promotes children’s learning anywhere, anytime in the community.

http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/informing-family-engagement-policy2/principles

Washington State Legislature

RCW 43.215 finds that:

--parents are their children's first and most important teachers and decision makers;

--parents and legal guardians should be involved in the development of policies, programs and budget decisions affecting their children.

Today’s SituationTokenized parent participation

in developing rules, programs, and making funding decisions

Programs and policies are not fully accepted or supported by parents because they don’t meet their interests or needs

How Did We Get Here?Deficit-based view of parents,

especially low-income parentsAdministrative and fiscal rules

create barriers to parent participation

Inadequate funding and resources allocated to support parent engagement

What’s at stake?

How do we find our way out?Parent engagement is a shared

effort. It is rooted in the slow and patient work of relationship-building. Ask:

◦What experiences and know-how do

parents bring to the table? ◦How are parents engaged in their

children’s lives right now?◦How can the agency change its system

and beliefs about parent ?

We’re in this together!

Tools, research and experience just one voice, one click, one conversation away . . .

The Big IdeaWashington State consistently

supports parent participation across:

economic, geographic, educational, occupational, political; and, religious diversity

in determining the policies, programs and funding which will

more closely match the needs and interests of parents.

Recommendations – Legislature Families come from all walks of life. They

can’t all come to you. For a full picture, you need to go to them.

Adequate resources and financial support are critical for the agency to support parent engagement. Fully fund the mandate.

Your strong leadership example counts! Model authentic parent engagement with your constituents. Others will follow.

Recommendations - AgencyView parents as assets, not deficits

Focus on the interests, needs and experiences of families first

Promote authentic relationships and engagement

Expand options for participation

Let’s Plant the Seeds . . .