Parent Committees

Parent Committees

[click here to download brochure]
	Policy Council is the parent group that involves parents in the planning, developing, and reviewing of the Head Start program. This is an AWESOME opportunity for parents that gives them the chance to experience being a member of a decision making body that affects their child and future Head Start families. Meetings are held once each month and a light meal as well as child care are provided with each meeting. Parents are given wonderful training opportunities. Parents have said being a part of this committee has been the most memorable experience of their lifetime! Meetings are fun, the food delicious, the company lively, and some members even go on trips each year! [Click here to view current Policy Council]
	Each classroom has a Parent Committee and every parent is a member of their classroom Parent Committee as soon as their child is accepted into the Head Start program. This committee meets once each month. Parents and children enjoy fun activities together, parents have the opportunity to see what has been happening in the classroom, and a brief meeting gives parents the opportunity to have a voice in what their child is learning in their classroom. Any ideas or concerns presented in this meeting are taken to the Policy Council through the Classroom Chairperson in a meeting he/she attends later in the month.
	Each classroom has a RIF Representative on the Parent Committee and all classroom parents are encouraged to serve on the classroom RIF Committee in planning and enjoying 3 book distributions each year. Children have the opportunity to choose a book at each distribution that they can take home and keep for their own! Members of the RIF committee also receive several free workshop classes that teach parents how to be more involved and informed in their children's literacy experiences.
	All Classroom Chairpersons meet together once each month to share classroom ideas and concerns with a representative from the Policy Council. This committee also helps with planning some of the program activities and advises on some decisions made by management. The Policy Council representative takes ideas and concerns from this committee back to the next meeting of the Policy Council. This committee is an important link in the communication of the Head Start program.
	The Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance Committee meets twice each year. Members of this committee are instrumental in determining the criteria that will be used in the selection process, beyond age and income eligibility requirements in the event there is an opening in a classroom and two children have the exact same age & income- this criteria determines which child has a greater need for the available placement spot. This committee ensures that our Head Start program serves the children who are in the greatest need of our services.
	The Health Advisory Committee meets twice each year with the Health Manager and community health/dental providers, staff, parents, and other community public health providers. The objective of this committee is to review program plans, participate in the program self-assessment, and help develop or revise program policies and procedures. This committee also helps deal with any program health, dental, or nutrition issues that may arise. They are an important helping link between Head Start and the health/dental community.

This committee meets at least twice each year to decide the look, feel, design, and future of the Head Start website. Members do not need to know anything about designing a website to belong-- they only need to know what they like!