Five Dimensions of Parent Involvement

1. Parent Education - Acknowledges parents as responsible guardians and primary educators of their children. Activities support parents' understanding of child development, parenting skills, and involvement in their child's education and health care.
   Parents are encouraged to work actively with teachers to develop and carry out classroom activities, use those activities at home, practice preventative health strategies with their children, and actively participate in medical and dental check-ups.
   
2. Making Decisions - Parents lead and serve on Policy Council and Parent Committees that make decisions on budgets, curriculum development, health services, setting goals, and implementing services.
   
3. Volunteering - Parents influence their programs by working as volunteers in the centers and classrooms. This includes helping teachers, accompanying children on field trips, planning and conducting parent meetings, developing and reviewing program plans, hiring staff, helping with meal preparation, and performing office tasks and custodial work.
   
4. Building Skills - Parents have opportunities to improve education and employment status. Community Education programs are identified that will help parents to prepare for employment such as: basic adult education, vocational training, and employment counseling. Also Community Literacy programs are identified and parents can be referred for literacy training.
   
5. Personal Support - Head Start aims to promoted the self-confidence and personal well being of parents. Parent Involvement staff and Family Advocates work intensively with parents to identify their strengths and a variety of needs, in order to reduce family stress, improve quality of life and develop feelings of self worth.