Parent Involvement

An essential part of Head Start is the involvement of parents in parent education, program planning, and operating activities. Many parents serve as members of Policy Councils and committees and have a voice in decision-making. Participation in classes and workshops on child development and staff visits to the home allow parents to learn about the needs of their children and about educational activities that can take place at home.

Program Goals

Parents are a child’s first teacher. At Head Start, parent involvement is highly encouraged because it allows parents to learn about their children’s educational needs and the activities that can take place in the home. Active parents are found to experience an increase in their selfconfidence, coping abilities, and overall well-being. Being involved in their child’s educational progress helps Head Start parents feel empowered.

Salt Lake CAP Head Start offers parents one-on-one mentoring, job-finding skills, and volunteering opportunities that equip parents with the skills to help their families succeed. Each family is assigned a Family Advocate. Family Advocates work closely with families to establish a relationship to provide support, referrals to community programs, and educational opportunities such as the General Equivalency Diploma (GED). If a particular family member is experiencing a specific problem, the Family Advocate can refer that person to the appropriate medical, social welfare, and/or other resources within the community.

Parents also have a voice in the Head Start program by serving on various committees; parents’ experiences in Head Start have raised their own self-confidence and improved their ability to make decisions.

Parent Involvement Facts

• Parents who are more actively involved with Head Start have increased self-confidence, coping abilities, and overall well-being.
• Involved parents have reported that their children have decreased aggressive behavior, higher literacy skills, and better social behavior.
• Children of parents who were more involved in Head Start scored significantly higher on book knowledge, color naming, creativity, and design copying.