Transcript Document
Parents and Practitioners: How Tennessee is Engaging Parents as Experts and Partners in Prevention Initiatives Presented by Jennifer Vaida and Melissa Perry Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee Overview Recruit and Identify Engagement Overcoming Barriers Nurturing Parent Leadership Feedback Where We Are Recruitment/Identify Inquires about services or programming offered by the organization Shows interest in leadership activities Shares information with others You see potential in them Self-nominate ASK! I See Something In You http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bbz2boNSeL0 How Should We Think About Parents? What we used to think: How we should think: THEY ARE IN NEED OF FIXING AND WE NEED TO FIX THEM. THEY ARE THE NURTURED CENTER OF SOCIETY. THEY ARE ASSETS TO BE VALUED AND SUPPORTED. FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community Based Child Abuse Prevention A Service of the Children’s Bureau Engagement Parent agrees to receive service or take part in a program that the organization offers Overcoming Barriers Barriers/Assumptions Creating a culture of mutual respect Parent stereotypes Practitioner stereotypes Steps to change those feelings How to Nurture Parent Leadership Involve parents in all planning, scheduling, participation, and follow-up of activities Provide a mentor Help overcome barriers to participation Hold meeting at a convenient time Form a relationship based on mutual trust Be available to listen when they talk Feedback Feedback -- Ask parents for feedback about the agency’s performance Parent participation becomes reciprocal in that the parent gets something and also gives back to the organization WHERE WE ARE My Parent Leadership Journey Parent Leader Mentor Practitioner I. Beginning the Adventure: Parent Involvement Involved with the Children’s Advocacy Center and Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee Parent Engagement PCAT Director saw leadership potential in me and invited me to be on Parent Leadership Team Parent Leadership- Melissa Joined Parent Leadership Team in 2009 II. Creating Avenues for Parent Involvement and Participation: Focus Groups Valued Activities and Program Enhancement o Family Outings - Zoo Day, Family Day at the Science Center o Workshops - TAEYC, Community Cafes’, Parent Leadership, PLAT, PLAT T3, CCJC, o Trainings- PLAT, PLAT T3, Stewards of Children, CCJC, SOC, Community Cafés o Community Services- March of Dimes and Susan G. Komen volunteers, Pinwheels for Prevention activities each year, sexual assault center online campaign, Say No to Bullying Service Project III. Parent Leadership Activities Leading to the Road of Success: Support Groups Examples of activities parents/kin can be involved in- Pinwheels for Prevention, Snowflake 5k, Christmas with Santa, Easter Egg hunts, Zoo Day Create opportunities for success- I went from a volunteer to part time to full time with PCAT Mentor- Parent Leadership Mentor for the PLT Program opportunities to participate in Advisory council- CBCAP Advisory Board, PLT Advisory Board, BPNN, Program volunteer positions Hands on Nashville, PCAT booth volunteer, Pinwheels for Prevention Newsletter articles- I have written several newsletter articles highlighting different agencies Mentor other families in the program-Yes Website Maintenance- Developed the Parentleadershiptn.org website and the PLT maintains the whole website, Facebook and Twitter groups Policy committees-Birth Parent National Network Policy Advisory Committee and BPNN Committee Member, ANPPC, TNCBCAP, SOC planning committee 2011 Agency materials development teams- I developed a new section of the Parent Leadership Training Guide. Specifically, a section on engaging special populations, plan development, policy development, training development Fundraising events- Delta Kappa in Memphis, Prevent Child Abuse Fundraising Event III. Parent Leadership Activities Leading to the Road of Success cont’d.: Community, State and National Advisory Councils and Task Forces- BPNN, TNCBCAP, ECCS, MCCY, ANPPC, TNYCWC State and National Conferences- Participated in multiple state and national conferences as a copresenter and a presenter. TAEYC, National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, TN State of the Child, PCAA, Strengthening Families National Conference, ANPPC Leadership Legislative and Advocacy Opportunities- Birth Parent National Network Advisory Committee, Children’s Advocacy Days, Alliance National Parent Partnership Council IV. Laying the Foundation for the Road to Success: Effective Communication Problem Solving Decision Making Self-Management V. Maintaining Organizational Parent Leadership Policies – The Map to Success Agency’s and/or program’s responsibility to define roles and opportunities for parent leaders in your organization. – These are listed in our guidelines for parent leaders Agency and/or program should provide and reflect the responsibilities and benefits to the parent leaders –We have a set of guidelines for our parent leaders Agency and/or program should have a high priority to provide for special needs of parent leaders such as stipends, assistance with transportation, child care and how are parent leaders apprised of this is a respectful way –We provide a stipend Agency and/or program should provide Internal and external resources to help parent leaders develop and maintain their skills; should be offered at the local, state and national level . –They have provided multiple opportunities to attend trainings and I (along with two other parent leaders) are currently pursuing a Nonprofit Leadership certification through the Center for Nonprofit Management. Agency and/or program should implement mentoring and shadowing opportunities for parent leaders along with a strong well trained staff to support and supervise the parent leaders. –PCAT has provided a mentor and multiple shadowing opportunities for me for as long as I have been involved. VI. Practicing and Encouraging Shared Leadership – the Bolts of Staying on the Road to Success Agency’s and/or program’s mission and commitment to the mission on shared leadership and parent leadership should be known throughout the organization and the state Opportunities for everyone in the organization, including parent leaders, to facilitate, guide, and coach others to adopt practices that reflect the goals of your mission The agency and/or program staff should all be committed and working together to outline and implement opportunities for parent leadership to occur The agency empowers parent leaders to help shape the direction of your activities The agency and/or program should encourage consensus building on new ideas and/or solutions on a regular basis which include both staff, community partners and parent leaders