Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

In reviewing the Parent and Family Stories found on Head Start: An Office of the Administration of Children and Families Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) website (http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs) the story of Melinda George (a Head Start parent, staff member, and doctoral candidate) had the greatest impact on me. Her story had such a significant impact on me because it was how my HS journey began! She started off as a parent, became an employee, and now a doctoral candidate. My journey with HS began with me being a parent and several years later, I became an employee where I was encouraged to finish my B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education Administration as well as receive my Director's Credential. "...if you want people to want more, you have to show them that's it's achievable (http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs)".

                                               

This is why involvement opportunities for parents and family members are so crucial and benefit young children, families, and the early childhood field. It is as Almeta Richards Keys states, "...there are many stories that I can tell, but I think the main story that I would like to say today is that Head Start is about empowering parents, empowering families -- about moving families to self-sufficiency (http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs)". In my experience with HS as a parent and teacher, I accomplished the goal of self-sufficiency and now I am a testament to the fact that when the teacher is successful, then he/she can show the parent how to be successful. When the parent achieves success, then he/she can show their child how to achieve goals. When the child is able to achieve their goals and dreams, then he/she brings even more to the community in which he/she resides or is employed in. From my experience and that of Melinda George and Almeta Richards Keys, HS set the foundation for such achievements which has a great impact on the family as a whole. When parents are encouraged to and supported in becoming involved with various opportunities within the classroom/center, this then strengthens the parent-teacher relationship, the student-teacher relationship, and everyone's overall experience within the program.

Reference

Parent and Family Stories on the website of the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC), part of the Office of Head Start. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs.