07/09/2001

Parent Leadership Training Institute

Q: I have three children in the public schools. How can I become a more effective advocate for them? I want to be sure that they are getting the best possible teachers and programs in every grade all the way through school.

A: Most parents are deeply concerned about the impact of schools, community and the environment on their children, but don't know how systems function or how decisions are made within the public policy and budget domains. A democracy toolkit is needed, not only to help parents develop the skills to advocate successfully for their children in the schools, but also to equip parents to take on positions of civic leadership.

The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) seeks to enable parents to become leading advocates for children. The cornerstones of the program are respect, validation and a belief that when the tools of democracy are understood, the public will actively engage in civic life. PLTI was designed collaboratively with the American Leadership Forum, Leadership Greater Hartford and the Connecticut Commission on Children.

Goals of the Parent Leadership Training Institute

• Help parents become the leaders they would like to be for children and families.
• Expand the capacity of parents as change agents for children and families. - Develop communities of parents within regions of the state that will support one another in skills development and successful parent action for children.
• Facilitate systems change for parental involvement with increased utilization of parents in policy and process decisions.
• Increase parent-child interactions and improve child outcomes through parent involvement.

The course includes:

• Understanding personal history and its impact on perceptions of leadership
• Embracing and working with diversity
• Assessing and defining problems
• Utilizing the media
• Speaking publicly
• Utilizing benchmarks and outcome measures
• Forming useful coalitions and building community
• Understanding policy and program budgets
• Becoming familiar with city, state and federal law

Parent graduates of PLTI serve as mentors for the next class of students. Parents participate, advise, speak and mentor other parents and programs, seeking to work with parents as partners. Parents are selected on individual merit based on their application and interview. Some applicants are self-referred. Others are referred by PLTI graduates, religious institutions, schools or community agencies. The PLTI strengthens a diverse constituency of parents who can access and utilize community assets to meet parent-defined goals.

Olga Brown, site leader from Stamford, says, "Leaders who have been out of sight come into light after graduating from PLTI. This is a very powerful program which renews crushed spirits, awakens dormant childhood dreams and builds capacity."

Call one of the site leaders listed below to become a parent leader for your children and your community.

For general information about PLTI contact:

Sharon Williams
Connecticut Commission on Children
18-20 Trinity St., Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-240-0290
FAX: 860-240-0248
Web site: www.state.ct.us/coc/

There are twelve active site contact persons as well.

Bloomfield: Paul Wilusz, Board of Education, 13 Hawthorne Lane, Bloomfield 06002

Bridgeport: Donna Thompson Bennett, 203-336-4197

Danbury: Donna Bosworth, 203-797-8088

East Hartford: Mindy D'Andrea, 860-622-5066

Hartford: Dulcie Giadone, 860-548-0301

Meriden: Edna Jimenez, 203-630-3566

Middletown: Renee Butler, 860-343-1741

New Haven: Lydia Bornick, 203-865-3255

Greater New London: Rumel Johnson, 860-442-2797 Ext. 1217

Norwalk: Don Burr, 203-854-4197

Stamford: Olga Brown, 203-977-4373

Waterbury: Keely Jenkins, 203-573-6240 or 6140

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Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.