The Parent Involvement Component's philosophy is to support parents as prime educators of their children and to assist families in becoming self-sufficient.

This component serves as a linkage between parent, child, and staff to encourage and support participation of parents in every phase of the program.  There are several ways that a parent can participate:

- By volunteering time at the child's center.
- By taking an active role on the Parent Committee.
- By taking an active role on the Head Start Policy Council.
- By taking an active role in the Fatherhood Involvement Project and/or Grandparent Support Group.
- By participating in the annual evaluation process that determines how well the program is operating and meeting the children's needs.

All Head Start-Early Head Start parents are encouraged to volunteer.  If you decide to volunteer you will be asked to attend volunteer training to learn more about Head-Early Head Start and your role as a volunteer in the program.  Training will be ongoing and conducted by the Parent Involvement Coordinator, Center Managers, and/or designee staff member.

Community Volunteers are assigned to sites based on location of residence and/or by request to a Head Start-Early Head Start site.  Each volunteer is given a volunteer job description and other important information about the program.

MICHELLE McALPINE
JCCEO Parent Involvement Coordinator
mmcalpine@jcceo.org
205-327-7570