Parent Engagement

Pre-K/Head Start and Early Head Start parents have a voice in how the program and centers operate. Parents are the prime educators of their children and know what they need. Our Pre-K/Head Start and Early Head Start programs have developed policies and procedures to ensure adequate and quality services. This could not be accomplished without ongoing volunteer efforts of parents.

Parents learn about their children when they volunteer. They discover their child’s talents and interests, make new friends, and learn new ideas concerning their child’s development. Parents may volunteer in several ways such as classroom aides, storytellers, office aides and field trip or event organizers. In addition, parents may volunteer to serve on the Pre-K/Head Start and Early Head Start Policy Council, which approves the policies and procedures for the entire program, Parent Committees, which work with each of the local Pre-K/Head Start and Early Head Start Center’s staff; Health Advisory Committee, which reviews and makes recommendations on issues concerning children’s health including involvement with other committees. Workshops and child development sessions are also offered to parents to assist them in learning the “how-to” in child parenting. Parent trainings are also conducted to help meet the needs of families. Following involvement in the program as volunteers, parents have often decided on a new career and have joined the Pre-K/Head Start and Early Head Start staff as paid employees or use the experience to obtain other positions.

Volunteer efforts may be as little as one hour a week, providing class support materials for projects, or as a class helper on a daily basis. Whatever talent you have to offer, we invite you to become involved with your child’s development in the program by offering your time or talent to the Pre-K/Head Start and Early Head Start programs. A little bit of your time means a lot to your children and to us.