A Child's Advocate: Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

I reviewed three videos from the ECLKC (Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center) website that focused on Parent and Family Involvement. The three videos and commentary I watched was a father named Gil Vigil, a father of children who attended Head Start, Diana Loyer, a grandmother of two granddaughters that attended Head Start, and Hilda Marshall, a great-grandmother who spoke about her granddaughter being in Head Start.

These three different perspectives of the opportunities and quality that Head Start brings to children and families were inspirational. Although Head Start is based on providing care, education, and health to low income families, this program should be available to all children in the sense that it not only helps the children succeed but it also helps the parents grow as well. Often parents are so busy with working and trying to support the family that they are unable to spend time taking their children to school and helping them along their educational path. Through Head Start parent and family involvement is highly encouraged and parents can serve on special councils which make policies for the Head Start Community. The parents are becoming more involved in their children’s future and therefore the children are seeing that their family is proud of them and this encourages them to keep going to do better.

I believe that hearing the stories of success and happiness from these families allows early childhood professionals to know that striving to change lives really means something to those who we work so hard for. Helping children and families, and advocating for their rights and needs, goes a long way in the future of children’s lives. It isn’t just about what we do today or throughout one school year or age, but the effect that takes over long from now. Gil Vigil in the video spoke about how his daughter and son were in Head Start and are now college graduates. The gratitude in his words showed how proud he was of his children’s success, and that is really all parents want for their kids- is the chance for success.

*Note* I grew up with a single mother in the low income financial bracket. Although my mother worked hard she made time to connect with me and ask questions about my life. I went to school with a girl who was from a high income family, giving her every luxury she wanted, however they were never available to her emotionally. Although her higher income lifestyle provided her food and health, she was missing a key element of inner fulfillment. Programs like Head Start would have been great for her emotional development and would have impacted her future in a more positive way than what ended up happening. Sometimes I look back and think if I knew then what I know now……

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center. (ECLKC). Head Start: Parent and Family Involvement. Parent and Family Stories. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs

4 comments:

CCWMay 18, 2012 at 8:49 PM
Tina,
Oh, how very right you are about the powerfully positive emotional impact tht Head Start has on the lives of children--to many it is the only consistency that they have in their young lives, something that they can joyfully look forward to every day. It baffles me often, as to why this wonderful life-changing program is only for low-income families. I know that in 1965, it was created to counter the poverty issue of the U.S.; however, after 40+ years of success (and seeing the widespread benefits of Head Start, why can't we offer it to EVERY CHILD regardless of their socio-economic status? That would finally bring truth to the slogan , "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" :)

Great post!

CCWhite

Reference
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). HHS accelerates Head Start quality improvements and submits impact study on 2002-2003 Head Start programs [News release]. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/01/20100113a.html
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousMay 20, 2012 at 10:35 AM
I like the idea that parents serve on councils to help make new policys. I think it gives an "outsiders" opinion to any new policy. Sometimes other council involved in the head start are to close to see what the final results are. The parents see the program working or not working first hand.
ReplyDelete
Replies
mrsmcgMay 20, 2012 at 5:47 PM
You are so right about children needing emotional support. While teaching at the middle school level I saw many children who were like your friend. I believe that these are not bad parents they just don't know the implications of what they don't provide for their children. A program like Head Start creates that opportunity to educate parents about the importance of involvement with their children. Great Post!
ReplyDelete
Replies
TeresaMay 20, 2012 at 11:13 PM
TIna,
I find that many forget the importance of emotional aspects of a child’s development. Let alone the development of the families we serve. many times they parents undergo such stress that we need to think about them, and the support we can provide for the children. I enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Personal Childhood Web

Terry- A neighbour of mine when I was a teenager. She was like a big sister in a way and treated me like my age instead of like a small child. I could confide in her and she helped me through a sticky situation when I was in high school. She taught me that although things seemed bad at the time and like there was no possible way out, that all things end eventually. That thought has helped me through some tough times in my life.
Chris- My brother. Chris joined the service when I was young, but when I'd visit him he never ceased to congratulate a grade or a new step in my life. He is someone who gives appreciation and shows admiration to everyone. He is intense to learn more about you and to help you feel better about yourself along the way. He carries my favorite trait which is sometimes hard to find- common sense. I hope I have gathered at least a handful of his knowledge and kindness along the way. His open heart and courage to do good is a constant reminder to me that there is more to people than meets the eye.
Kathy- A friend of my mother's, she was and still is someone who tells it like it is. She would never hide anything about the truth to me and she was comical in telling it. If I had a question, Kathy had a straightforward answer. Still to this day Kathy will not hesitate to give meaningful opinions and life lessons to me. I don't call her enough, but I do think of her constantly especially when life throws me a curve ball and I make some kind of joke out of it!
Louise- A friend of my mother's, she was someone I could tell things to that I was afraid to tell my mom. She would comfort me and let me know I was normal and tried to figure out ways to help me in any situation. She stayed calm and optimistic and I always admired those traits about her that I wish I could have found at home. Louise has definitely taught me to stay true to myself and not try to change to meet another's needs. She's also taught me positivity lasts longer and doesn't create as many wrinkles.
Melanie- She was a childhood friend who had a stable family life and was very intelligent. She helped me study and she helped me see past what other's thought to find out what I thought. Melanie is someone who I assume went on to become some kind of life changing scientist. She showed me dedication, and for a young child to see a peer unafraid of committment to something left a lasting impression.