Promoting parents as children's first teachers and best advocates

Parents want to improve the lifelong health, safety and education of their children. Yet their opinions are often unheard. The reasons are varied and complicated. Although most parents are motivated to enhance their children's lives, they sometimes lack the advocacy and civic leadership skills to negotiate the systems (school, government, health care, etc.) involved with their children's lives.

After meeting and listening to many statewide parent focus groups, the Connecticut Commission on Children (COC) worked collaboratively with the American Leadership Forum and Leadership Greater Hartford to design the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). The Stamford Health Department garnered support from both the public and private sector and launched a PLTI.

Every year since 1996, Stamford's PLTI has selected between 20–25 parents of diverse backgrounds to participate in this in this 20 week adventure that empowers parental involvement in the civic arena. PLTI integrates child development, leadership and a civic toolkit in this spiral curriculum. Childcare, transportation and meals are always available.

The voices of 174 parent leaders are now clearly heard in our community. Some have successfully run for public office, joined local boards, developed creative programs for children and made personal and career changes that have improved their families' lives.

A number of school principals have reported decreased absences and improved grades in over 80% of the children of PLTI graduates. The PLTI alumni association created an environment where stakeholders recognize parents as assets and partners in policy, outcomes, and capacity building within the community.

Learning Objective

1. Utilize local health departments to build capacity and support public health,

2. Build coalitions with parents to strengthen families,

3. Recognize parents as assets in closing the achievement gap.