Parental and Family Involvement
--------------------------------------------------------------------The purpose of this component is to support the parents' and family's role as children's primary teachers. The parents and family will be acknowledged as contributors to the program through involvement with a parent body or participation in and/or contribution to classroom activities.
This component provides the opportunity to empower parents to bring forth their unique abilities and further develop as role models for children and in their communities. The ultimate goal is for parents and caregivers to complete the program being more confident, and assertive and having a deeper understanding of their children than when they began the program.
Aboriginal Head Start centers will:
- be managed in such a way that parents have a meaningful experience in the planning, development, operation and evaluation of the program;
- provide an opportunity for the extended family, particularly Elders, cultural teachers and traditional people, to participate in teaching and caring for children;
- provide and communicate about opportunities to participate;
- encourage and empower parents to participate; and
- not make a child's registration and participation dependent on one or both parents' participation.