2019-2020 Parent Ambassador Program 


The Educare West DuPage Parent Ambassador Program is a leadership and advocacy program designed to create transformation in parents, policy, and communities. Support for this program is provided through an Acceleration Grant from the Buffett Early Childhood Fund and administered by Educare Central Maine. The program is organized by leaders at both Educare Central Maine and Educare Seattle.
Picture


​The goal of the Parent Ambassador Program is to expand parent self-efficacy through empowerment and skill development to foster change agent behaviors in advocacy—for themselves and their families.
The program will strengthen parent engagement and advocacy efforts at our school. The philosophy of the program is grounded in the belief that parents—regardless of class, race, and culture—are motivated by concern for their children and can be a powerful force for equity and greater opportunity.

Educare West DuPage determined that the important factors that will contribute to the success of the Parent Ambassador Program are recognizing the strengths of the participating parents and meeting them “where they are”—specific to their knowledge, awareness, and comfort related to being an effective ambassador and advocate. As such, Educare West DuPage staff identified objectives and related activities to be accomplished in Year 1. These objectives and activities support necessary foundational knowledge and skills development**.
 
**All activities will specifically focus on current early childhood and early childhood education priorities, to the extent possible.
 
The Educare West DuPage Parent Ambassador Program centers around on engaging 3-4 parent ambassadors. Program objectives include:
  • Identifying opportunities to support individual growth of each ambassador
  • Enhancing ambassador knowledge of building and cultivating relationships with current local, state, and federal politicians and legislators
  • Identifying and listing key components of communication necessary for interacting with politicians, legislators, and other advocates
 
Educare West DuPage supports its Parent Ambassadors!
  • Parent Ambassadors will participate in formal state parent advocacy training programs
  • Parent Ambassadors will learn more about early childhood advocacy organizations in Illinois
  • Enhance their skills and confidence for talking about the Parent Ambassador Program and their role as a parent advocate
  • Learn about and practice using tools that will help them become effective parent advocates