Family Engagement

Family Engagement is an interactive process of developing positive, goal-oriented relationships between early childhood professionals, families, and their children to benefit families as a whole.

See below how to align Family Engagement at your center with Head Start Program Performance Standards and make the most out of your meetings and activities.

Parent Advisory Committee

Establishing Parent Advisory Committees (PAC) provides a formal platform for parents to engage, understand, and inform programming to better meet the needs of children and families.

The parent committee must convene at a minimum of two times per contract year.
If your program already plans Parent Advisory Committee meetings for GSRP, you may combine the meetings for Head Start and GSRP.
Turn in a copy of the Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Summary.
NMCAA will contribute up to $50 worth of supplies or materials for approved Parent Advisory Committee meetings.

Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Summary (7/24)

Photo by Doubbt Official is under license CC BY 2.0

Family Engagement Activity Ideas

Invite parents to participate in a large group time
Provide a parent training
Plan a family literacy night
Family work bee for a classroom project
Make it and take it activities
Invite parents to attend when you have a classroom visitor (veterinarian, firefighter, musician, guest readers, etc.)
Invite parents in to share their expertise with children and families.

Family Engagement Activities

When planning Family Engagement Activities for your classroom or center, consider how you are supporting the Head Start Family Outcomes and School Readiness Goals. Collaborative Centers will offer at least 2 Family Engagement Activities per contract year.
NMCAA School Readiness Goals Birth to Five

Head Start Family Outcomes

Family Well-being
Families as Learners
Family Engagement and School Readiness
Positive Parent-Child Relationships
Families as Life-long Educators
Family Engagement in Transitions
Family Connections to Peers and Community
Families as Advocates and Leaders

Click here to connect to a comprehensive explanation of each Head Start Family Outcome from the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC).

Remember to submit the Plan and Approval for Family Engagement to your Coordinator/FSS. NMCAA will support the cost of 2 approved Family Engagement Activities per contract year by supplying up to $80 in supplies per event.
Plan and Approval for Family Engagement (7/24)

Use the sign-in sheet below for Family Engagement Activities and Parent Advisory Committee Meetings.
PAC & FE Sign-In Sheet (7/24)

Policy Council

Another way families can be involved in Head Start/Early Head Start is to participate in Policy Council. Policy Council is the group of parents and community members who meet monthly to participate in decision-making and Head Start/Early Head Start program design, implementation, and operation. Representatives are elected from all Head Start program options including our Collaborative Center and Early Head Start Center-based programs. Parents are elected to this exciting and rewarding position. We ask that the Policy Council Information Flyer is shared with families at the beginning of each program year (September). Please complete the Elected Policy Council Positions form if there is a parent/guardian who is interested in being on the Council.

Policy Council Information Flyer (8/25) Elected Policy Council Positions form (8/25)

Talk to your Coordinator if you have more than one person interested in participating from your center. The parents in your center will need to vote for their representative from the interested applicants.

HSPPS 1301.3 Policy Council and Policy Committee
HSPPS 1302.50 Family Engagement