Stepping Up and Speaking Out: A Guide to Building Strong Parent Leadership
Parent leadership is essential for creating equitable and effective systems, policies, and programs that serve all families. Recognizing this, Michigan has been at the forefront of a movement to amplify parent voices, ensuring they play a pivotal role in shaping the services that impact their communities. A cornerstone of this effort is the comprehensive report, "Stepping Up and Speaking Out: The Evolution of Parent Leadership in Michigan," developed by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) in collaboration with the Michigan Home Visiting Initiative.
Understanding the Report
The "Stepping Up and Speaking Out" report delves into the often-overlooked elements required to establish a robust parent leadership system. By drawing insights from parents, providers, and administrators across Michigan, the report offers real-world examples and actionable strategies to cultivate environments where parents can emerge as leaders and catalysts for change within their communities.
Why This Resource Matters
For over three decades, Michigan's parents have been building a movement to uplift family voices. This report encapsulates the lessons learned and provides a roadmap for others aiming to integrate parent perspectives into their work. By understanding and implementing the strategies outlined, organizations and communities can ensure that their initiatives are more inclusive, effective, and reflective of the populations they serve.
How to Utilize the Report
For Organizations and Providers: The report serves as a guide to assess and enhance current practices related to parent engagement. It offers tools to build infrastructure that supports parent leadership, ensuring that services are co-designed with those they aim to benefit.
For Parents and Community Leaders: It provides inspiration and practical advice on how to step into leadership roles, advocate effectively, and collaborate with service providers to drive systemic change.
Accessing the Report
The "Stepping Up and Speaking Out" report is available for download in multiple languages:
