The Parent-Mentoring Initiative is Underway

In the summer of 2004, the Head Start Bureau launched The Head Start Parent-Mentoring Training Program designed to:

• increase the ability of parents to enhance their children's language and literacy skills through everyday experiences and
• provide parents with critical communication skills and strategies for sharing their learning with other parents in their communities.

Over 1,000 mothers, fathers, and legal guardians representing local Head Start grantees and delegate agencies attended the training events around the country. Their children were entering their last year of Head Start before going onto kindergarten.

Participants were enthusiastic and eager to implement what they had learned back home. One Parent-Mentor reflected on her experience in the training, "I walked through the doors with my own knowledge of being an ordinary parent; now I am leaving with the extra knowledge and confidence to share my experiences with other parents." A Spanish speaking Parent-Mentor remarked, "This training gave me confidence to continue using our Spanish language. It is very important that we keep our roots in our children's vocabulary. That way they can have not one, but two languages. This will help them to succeed in everything."

The Head Start Bureau staff made these inspiring remarks at the end of each training, "As Parent-Mentors you will be more intentional about working with your own children and you will become a support for other parents as they help their children." In fact, many Parent Mentors have made an impact on their local programs. A Parent-Mentor from California recently wrote to the Regional Office, "Our agency now has a Parent-Mentor Program and guess who put it together? I will soon be staff. We have openings for 3 paid positions. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month to share ideas and learning activities. Last time we met at the local library. We were given a tour, applied for library cards for parent/child, even booked a story teller. I have planned a Family's Reading Together Workshop. Each participant will get a free book." No doubt, other Parent-Mentors across the country are making a difference in the lives of their own children and of other families too.

The Parent-Mentoring Training will be extended in 2005 to the Head Start families of 3- and 4-year-old children in the Regions, including Puerto Rico. For more information, contact Willa Choper Siegel, Program Specialist, Education Branch, Head Start Bureau, T: 202-205-4011; E: wsiegel@acf.hhs.gov