FAMILY & COMMUNITY

Parent Involvement

The Parent Involvement Team worked closely with other functional areas and community partners to provide quality services for families which include workshops to provide enrichment in the areas of health, nutrition, parenting skills training, domestic violence, special services, mental health, budgeting, and education.

In order to have a successful Head Start program, we must have Parent Involvement.  Head Start offers many ways for parents to participate:

• The Grandparent Support Group Book Club completed reading 3 books:  God Don’t Like Ugly, The Other Woman, and A Piece of Mind.  Excellent discussions.
• Nutrition Workshop focused on healthy eating.
• Domestic Violence Awareness Workshop encouraged parents to try new way of interacting & spending time with their children.
• Parents learned about the Greater Newark Conservatory Center.  The garden will get started through the community which parents will be able to participate in the care & harvest with their children.
• Transition Workshops provided activities to support parents moving into kindergarten.
• T.D. Bank will provide $10 to all parents that participate in the Summer Reading Program to encouraged saving with their child.  Saving Accounts will be opened for each child.
• Parents at NPC participated in a training program, “Strengthen Families” provided by Ms. Keeva Smith from Programs For Parents.
• Parents are on the road visiting various countries through our Diversity Program, Coordinator Marco Beria.
• Stress Workshops provided opportunities for parents to learn how to reduce stress.
• Workshops are provided in Spanish & English as needed.
• Parents received free family passes for Liberty Science Center.  If you did not receive your family pass, contact your parent coordinator.
• Parents and children from Alberta Bey attended a special event at Kean College to celebrate the 2011 Garden State Green Fest.  Parents at other centers were given tickets to attend.
• Parents attended a ground breaking ceremony to usher in a New Newark.  Parents also received two for one admission tickets for a matinee show after the event.
• Each parent will receive a volunteer certificate on June 29th at their center.
• End of the year planning for special events will be provided with each Center Parent Committee.
• Many activities provided the opportunities for parents to participate of their interest in all parts of the program, such as Health, Nutrition, Education, and Parenting Skill Program.
• Parents attended a Region Head Start Conference held in Atlantic City for four (4) days, all expense paid.  Networking with other Head Start staff and parents.
• Fire Safety Workshop provided an opportunity for parents to prepare for evacuation at home.  
• A salute to our participating photographer.  Ten percent donation will be given to support our Dollar per Child contribution to the National Head Start Association:
• Amor Studio
• Continental Portrait
• The Mallet Photography

It is important that parents attend center meetings to stay informed, to know what their child does at school and to help make decisions!

Some Of Our Parents