Radically changing how parents are perceived, engaged, and included
What We Work For
We believe that parents are the best experts on what their children need to thrive.
The EC-LINC Parent Leader Network (PLN) provides a space for parents in EC-LINC communities to collaborate with and support each other, represent the parent perspective, and advocate for parent voice and leadership in early childhood systems. Harnessing the power of parents and giving them the space and support to share their expertise, wisdom, and knowledge ensures that we keep children, youth, and families at the center of our work.
How We Do It
Parents want to improve outcomes for their kids, but face barriers when it comes to working with early childhood systems of care.
Structural racism and bias prevent many parents of color from being true partners and leaders in their child’s healthy development and early learning. The Parent Leader Network works to address that, by bringing together parents from across the country to collaborate, build leadership skills, advance racial equity, and advocate for change in early childhood systems.
The Parent Leader Network seeks to strengthen parents’ leadership and expertise in priority action areas such as equity, early childhood systems, and parent engagement. It increases parents’ access to peer-to-peer education, support, and paid leadership opportunities.
In addition, a group of parents and agency staff worked in collaboration to develop the Manifesto for Race Equity & Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems, a guiding document for early childhood agencies. Members of the Parent Leader Network are tasked with using the Manifesto to build a movement centered on racial equity wherein:
System leaders acknowledge the ways that agency policies, procedures, staffing, and culture create barriers to equity and parent engagement and respond by making changes and improving collaboration;
Early childhood agency staff reflect the diversity of the community;
Systems work to improve families’ access, experiences, and outcomes.
More than 25 parent leaders from 10 EC-LINC communities are participating in the PLN. A small steering committee represents parents across multiple communities to plan and lead the Network’s strategies. All PLN members work to promote the Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems both locally and nationally.
We believe that:
Parents should be at the center of the work of early childhood agencies and systems;
Parents should be participating at all levels from planning to budgeting to decision-making;
Parents should be valued as experts; and
Parents should be powerful leaders in their communities and beyond.
Manifesto 2.0: The Parent Edition and its 5 Commitments for Change is a “Bill of Rights’’ for parents. Together with other parents and allies, you can use it as a platform to call on leaders in early childhood systems to support more opportunities for parent voice and leadership and equitable outcomes for children and families.
A group of 40 parent leaders and agency staff from nine EC-LINC communities, with support from CSSP staff and consultants, came together to create this Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership in Early Childhood.
We spoke with some Parent Leaders at the inaugural gathering of the Parent Leader Network (PLN) in 2019. These videos (both the abridged and original cuts) capture what it means to them to be on the PLN and why they are so committed to doing this work.
Parent Leader Network Steering Committee members are elected for a one-year term to represent parents in their communities as the decision-making body of the Parent Leader Network, plan and lead Network strategies, and promote the Manifesto locally and nationally. Up to two parent leaders from selected EC-LINC communities can serve on the Steering Committee.
The Parent Edition and its 5 Commitments for Change is a “Bill of Rights’’ for parents. Together with other parents and allies, you can use it as a platform to call on leaders in early childhood systems to support more opportunities for parent voice and leadership and equitable outcomes for children and families. Additional implementation resources and worksheets are also available.
A group of 40 parent leaders and agency staff from nine EC-LINC communities, with support from CSSP staff and consultants, came together to create this Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership in Early Childhood.
This resource is designed to help agencies, systems, and collaboratives working with young children and their families to chart a course toward an expanded approach to family engagement.
This podcast explores some of the dramatic changes taking place across the country as people work to reinforce a sense of community, support young children and families, and work to build equity within communities.
This report is a toolkit designed to inspire, challenge, and support leaders in early childhood to embrace a vision of families as agents of change in their children’s lives, communities, and early childhood systems.
From Story to Power, A Guide
Let’s create change with our stories! This storytelling guide for parents and agencies partnering with parent leaders will inspire parents, communities, and systems change with powerful storytelling. Co-designed by EC-LINC agency partners and PLN parent leaders, this guide was developed by Health + Communications. Download the guide in English and Spanish.
