Collaborative Family Contacts

Family Participation Groups

GSRP supports families as active decision-makers, by developing and implementing training to instill confidence in them as active members of advisory committees.

Purpose:

Each Intermediate School District (ISD) is required to have GSRP family representation on the regional advisory committees. Refer to the Intermediate School District Administration of GSRP section of this manual for more information on advisory committees.

Family members may also participate in a school readiness advisory committee, which provides for the involvement of classroom teachers, parents or guardians of program participants, and community, volunteer, and social service agencies and organizations. The advisory committee annually reviews and makes recommendations regarding the GSRP components aimed at enhancing the school readiness of all children.

At the center or program level, a staff member initiates a family participation group that includes both staff and families. Once established, the group is best led by a family representative. This group encourages families to work together with center staff to consider program improvements, plan events and generate ideas that could benefit all involved. 

Recommendations:

• Allow families to hold leadership roles that foster a sense of purpose and connection.
• Families should be seen as equal partners with early education professionals. 
• Create a family survey to assess interest in advisory committee participation, identify desired learning topics, and gather contact information. Survey results should be shared with all families, and interested participants should be contacted individually for follow-up.
• Updates from advisory committees should be shared and input gathered to take back to those groups.