Families as Advocates and Leaders:
The Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework encourages parents and professionals to work together as partners and to acknowledge parents as the leaders in their families.
All parents are advocates and leaders in the lives of their children. They advocate for their children’s well-being and, as their children grow, they develop as leaders and as parents. Families can be advocates and leaders at home, in their children’s schools, in their neighborhood, in their community or within the larger society. Their advocacy and leadership may be far-reaching, shaping the development of children, programs, schools and other families for years to come.
Family advocates may speak up for themselves or others to address needs, clarify rights and aid in problem-solving. Parents may advocate for their own children or join with others to represent the needs of many children. Family leaders use and develop resources and services to strengthen their families. They speak and act from those experiences.
Parent Cafés:
Parent Cafés are safe spaces where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges and celebrations of family life. The Cafés provide opportunities for reflection and peer-to-peer learning, exploration of personal strengths and the Protective Factors and opportunities to use experiences to help strengthen their families.
Cafés are structured discussions and offer an approach that engages and affirms parents as leaders. Further information about the Parent Café process can be found on the Be Strong Families website.
Parent Café Training Institutes taking place in Pennsylvania:
In Pennsylvania, local teams consisting of family members and/or organizational staff may apply to attend a Be Strong Parent Café Training Institute. For more information please contact PA Strengthening Families.
National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement; Understanding Family Engagement Outcomes: Research to Practice Series, Families as Advocates and Leaders; 2013, 2019.