LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR PARENTS

The Minnesota Head Start Association promotes parent leadership through training, experience and leadership opportunities.

PARENT TRAINING

MHSA offers an annual cycle of parent training opportunities for Head Start parents across Minnesota. In partnership with organizations like the Council on Civic Parent Leadership and the Minnesota Community Action Association, MHSA offers the following training opportunities each year:

• MHSA's Annual Parent Training Conference - October


• Civic Parent Leadership - December


• How does the Minnesota Legislature Work? - February


• Head Start Policy Council and Shared Decision-Making - May

EXPERIENCE

Providing parents full involvement in the leadership and work of the Association makes families an equal partner in the mission and vision of the organization. Head Start parents are selected from each Minnesota Head Start member agency to serve on the MHSA Parent Affiliate with full voting rights in the MHSA General Assembly. Three delegates from the MHSA Parent Affiliate also serve on the MHSA Board of Directors, with shared decision-making power in the operation of the Association.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

MHSA is committed to fostering the leadership potential of all Head Start parents. The Association strives to be a culturally competent organization and is exploring new ways to support the leadership goals of the culturally diverse families served by Head Start. In addition to offering training opportunities, parents are afforded the opportunity to represent Minnesota on the Region V Head Start Association and National Head Start Association (NHSA). MHSA also supports a series of awards and scholarships to recognize outstanding Head Start parents and graduates. MHSA-supported scholarships and awards include:

• Parent of the Year Award ($250)
• Beating the Odds Award ($250)
• Father of the Year Award ($250)
• Ann Phipps Memorial Scholarship for Head Start Parent ($500)
• Phyllis J. Jones Memorial Scholarship for Head Start Graduate ($500)