This document provides information to help parents build leadership skills and effectively participate in decision-making groups. It outlines three key points: 1) Identifying leadership roles for families in early childhood groups and gaining strategies for effective participation. 2) Telling personal stories to define motivations and how a parent's compelling story can impact others. 3) Learning about different types of groups, how to get involved, and ways to provide input such as being prepared, asking questions, and representing other families. The overall goal is to help more parents have a voice and feel empowered to participate in their community.

1. Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
START Project
Parents as
Leaders in
Early
Childhood:
Personal Skill
Building

2. 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

3. 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

4. Leadership
Roles
for
Parents

5. 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

6. 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

7. A
Parent’s
Story
"Before, I didn't feel like I had
voice, but now I have a voice."

8. 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?

9. Types of Groups

10. About the Group
Learn about:
Mission, Purpose, & History
Style of leadership
Priorities and goals
Structure
Decision-making practices
Reminder…
Review past meeting minutes
Attend a meeting before joining

11. 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

12. Ways to Participate and Give Input
Be prepared
Ask Questions
Offer Feedback
Offer Suggestions, Ideas
and Potential Solutions
Share your perspective

13. 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)?

14. 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

15. 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

16. Thank you
Additional Resources - enclosed in your folder
Our Contact Information