ACYF
Administration on Children, Youth
and Families |
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families |
| 1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-04-04 |
2. Issuance Date: 5/11/04 |
| 3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau |
| 4. Key Word: Parent-Mentor Training Program |
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM: [See Attachments at the bottom]
TO:
All Early Head Start and Head Start Grantee and Delegate Agencies
SUBJECT:
The Head Start Parent-Mentor Training Program
INFORMATION:
The Head Start Bureau is launching a Parent-Mentor
Training Program aimed at increasing the ability
of parents to enhance their children's language
and literacy skills as well as learning how to
mentor other parents to do the same with their
children. Mothers, fathers, and legal guardians
of children who will be returning to Head Start
this coming September for one more year before
entering kindergarten will be eligible to apply
for training as a Head Start Parent-Mentor.
This effort, authorized by Section 648(a)(2) of
the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9843(a)(2), supports
the President's Good Start, Grow Smart
Early Childhood Initiative which stresses the importance
of supporting parents and families in rearing their
children. It also reflects the Head Start program's
philosophy and commitment to parents and to helping
parents enhance their children's growth and
development while developing skills which will
help them advocate for their own and other children
in their community.
This summer, the Head Start Bureau will conduct
twelve Parent-Mentor training events in ten regions.
At each event approximately 300 mothers, fathers
and legal guardians representing local Head Start
grantees and delegate agencies, will be trained
as Head Start Parent-Mentors.
This training is designed to:
Increase parents' knowledge of
children's language and literacy development,
including everyday ways to support children in
their learning.
Provide participants with critical communication
skills and strategies for connecting with and mentoring
other parents in their communities.
Application Process
Those eligible to apply are mothers, fathers and
legal guardians who have:
- A child who is returning to Head Start in
the fall of 2004, and who will go to kindergarten in the fall of
2005;
- A high school diploma or a GED;
-
The ability to travel and fully
participate in the training in their region; and
-
A commitment to return to their community to work
with their children on what they have learned and
to share this knowledge with other parents.
In addition to confirming that they are eligible
to participate in the Parent-Mentor training, applicants
will also be asked to provide a brief statement
regarding why they think they would be an effective
Head Start Parent-Mentor.
Enclosed is a letter inviting parents to apply.
Please distribute the letter to all eligible mothers,
fathers and legal guardians. Also enclosed is information
regarding the dates and locations of the twelve
summer training events. Parents from Migrant and
Seasonal and American Indian and Alaska Native
programs are to apply for the training event that
is closest to their home.
Eligible applicants may get specific information
regarding application procedures by visiting
www.headstartinfo.org and clicking on Parent-Mentor
Training Program or by contacting the Parent-Mentor
toll free hotline 1-877-488-4888. Applicants will
be asked to provide such information as their name,
address, telephone number, and program name. They
will be assigned a five digit code so that they
may proceed to submit their application through
an automated telephone process. Applicants may
also apply on-line at: www.headstartinfo.org.
Our goal is to have a parent participant from each
grantee and delegate agency.
Applications must be submitted either by phone
or on-line by Thursday, May 20, 2004. Decisions
on successful applicants will be made by May 28,
2004. All applicants will be notified by June 4,
2004.
The Head Start Bureau and its contractors are required
by law to protect confidentiality. The information
parents provide through the application process will
be used or disclosed solely for the purpose for which
it is intended, which is to identify participants
for the Parent-Mentor training to be held this summer.
All personally identifying information will be deleted
from US Department of Health and Human Services owned
or supported systems once parents have been confirmed.
No personally identifying information will be used
for any other purpose.
Regional TA staff will provide on-going support
to the parent-mentoring initiative. Parent-Mentors
will be encouraged to share experiences, information
and materials through the Head Start Parent-Mentor
Web site. Additionally, a section of the National
Head Start Bulletin will be devoted to highlighting
the successes and other interesting experiences
of Head Start Parent-Mentors in various communities
nationwide.
Funding
Supplemental funding will be made available to
grantees to cover the costs of parent participation.
Once grantees are notified that their parent or
a parent from their delegate agency has been selected,
they are expected to submit a supplemental funding
application request (SF 424) to the Regional Office.
The supplement would cover air and ground travel
costs, as appropriate, as well as up to three and
half days of per diem and lodging. Average costs
for this type and length of training are approximately
1,200 dollars. Costs maybe considerably less for
parents living short distances from the training
and, in some isolated cases, costs could be more,
particularly when traveling from very distant or
remote areas. Regional Offices will work with grantees
to ensure that costs are reasonable.
Grantee and delegate agencies are expected to
support interested parents through the application
process as needed. Grantees and delegate agencies
are also expected to facilitate selected parents' participation
by assisting them with their travel and other arrangements.
For funding questions, please call your Program
Specialist in the Regional Office.
The Head Start Parent-Mentor Training Program
is an opportunity for parents to become more involved
with their children as well as to provide leadership
to other parents and the community. We hope that
parents who have not yet realized their leadership
potential will participate in this experience and
come away with both a new set of skills as well
as an enhanced sense of self.
Sincerely,
Windy M. Hill
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau
Attachments:
A
Letter to Head Start Parents
Training
Schedule
