Commission on Children Hosts Discussion on Family Civics and Parent Engagement

“Who better to speak on behalf of children but their parents?” asked Marisol Estrada-Soto, a parent leader from Meriden. “Our children do not deserve status quo. Does parent involvement matter? Yes it does.”

Parents, after all, are their children's first and most influential teachers.

“Family Civics and Parent Engagement: Why it Matters to Connecticut” was the topic of the CT Commission on Children's Jan. 12 meeting. It featured a national scan of best practices, why the state is on the cutting edge, testimonials from parent leaders and a panel discussion on the return on investment.

Programs such as “PLTI” (Parent Leadership Training Institute), “PEP” (People Empowering People) or “Parents SEE” (Parents Supporting Educational Excellence) are all examples of different programs in CT that prepare parents for civic involvement. According to the CT Department of Education, children learn best when their parents play four key roles in their learning – teaching (helping them at home), supporting (contributing their skills to the school), advocating (helping children receive fair treatment) and decision-making (participating in joint problem-solving at every level).

“PLTI changes lives,” said East Hampton resident and PLTI grad Kimberley Fontaine. She said the program radically transformed her from a shy parent to an outspoken parent advocate. “PLTI gives parents the tools to get involved – it forces you to get involved through a community project.”

Fontaine's community project came about when she discovered the only place that children could safely skateboard in East Hampton was going to close. She gathered a group of kids together, after reaching and inviting children interested in finding a safe place to skateboard, at the local library. Using the PEP curriculum, she helped them prepare to speak at town council meetings. Everyone in town was aware of what the kids were working to accomplish.

After obtaining her bachelor's degree, Meriden resident and PLTI graduate Marisol Estrada-Soto had some time on her hands and was looking for something to do. One day, she received a PLTI flier in her son's folder home. Maybe this was something to look into, she thought. Going through the 20-week program gave her insight into herself and gave her the confidence she needed.

“I met people I probably never would have otherwise,” she said. In terms of confidence, she is now chair of Meriden Children First and involved with the Meriden Family Zone and Meriden Blueprint process. She even found herself running for Meriden's school board this past November.

Parents SEE and PLTI graduate Ann McAdams of Windsor said she always considered herself a leader; at least in her own mind.

“I never really realized how much I didn't know about leadership,” she said. She is trying to provide more of a leadership role in Windsor. “You're leading the next generation – you can't farm out your responsibility to other people.”

She is helping coordinate a small grassroots effort of Windsor parents of color who have decided that instead of letting everyone else worry about closing the achievement gap, it was truly up to them.

“There are parents out there waiting to be tapped on the shoulder to join PEP, PLTI,” said Doug Edwards, statewide coordinator for Parents SEE.

“Anytime we can engage parents, it's a good thing,” said State Rep. Kathy Abercrombie, a PLTI graduate who went on to win a seat at the Legislature. “One thing we can't forget – what we built here in Connecticut is a grassroots effort to keep involved. We won't get it back if it's lost.”

Abercrombie was alluding to the fact that the Children's Trust Fund, which is a funding partnership for the Parent Trust (which supports PLTI, PEP and Parents SEE) has been twice caught up in budget deficit mitigation plans, with the November plan by Governor Rell for an immediate $571,173 rescission, plus a $4 million reduction, pending legislative approval. That $4 million cut would equate to a 33.8% reduction in funds to the fund.

Twice now, reiterated David Nee, Graustein Memorial Fund's executive director, the money has been in and out of the budget. He has even taken it upon himself to write letters to the Governor and Office of Policy and Management to express the foundation's commitment to its matching contributions.

“Never will I stand up before a microphone and say 'we give up,'” Nee said.

“Civics changes your sense of self,” added Zimmerman.

PLTI courses take diverse groups of parents and weaves them together and peels back layer, said Merryl Eaton of Christian Community Action of New Haven.

 “It really does change lives,” Eaton said. “This is a program that works, because it really does make a difference.”