Being a Parent Leader
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Most parents are concerned about the effect of schools, community and the environment on their children, but don't understand how local and state government works, including how public policies and budget decisions are made.
Through its Parent Trust Fund, the Children's Trust Fund empowers parents and grandparents by offering them the training necessary to take an active role in government and community activities and become skilled advocates on behalf of children.
The Parent Trust Fund supports parent leadership training, which consists of 10- and 20-week courses that strengthen participants' leadership and democracy skills through instruction on working with diversity, critical thinking, public speaking, forming coalitions, dealing with opposition, policy and municipal budgets and city, state and federal law.
Research evaluating the program shows significant benefits for parents and children. Increased parent involvement has had a positive effect on children's learning, development, school attendance and achievement and attitudes about school. Parents in the program have become more aware of their abilities, and many have changed jobs, sought additional schooling and developed higher expectations of their children and the school system.
To find out more about parent leadership training, or to refer a parent to the program, contact the Children's Trust Fund at (860) 418-8765 or via e-mail.
Family Development Training
Preventing child abuse, neglect and child development problems demands a new approach. To strengthen families, a family service delivery system that focuses on empowerment rather than crisis intervention is necessary.
The Children's Trust Fund's Family Development Training program teaches students and human service providers a strength-based approach to working with families and communities.
In collaboration with the University of Connecticut Center for the Study of Culture, Health and Human Development, the Trust Fund provides this accessible, community-centered family development training that focuses on the skills needed to help families attain healthy self-reliance.
The program offers an 80-hour course for family service workers and a 35-hour program for family service supervisors, managers, policymakers and executive directors.
Participants in the 80-hour program are eligible to receive the FDC credential from the University of Connecticut School of Family Studies by completing the program, a skills-based portfolio and competency-based exam. Individuals who receive credentials are eligible for six undergraduate college credits and continuing education units.
The Family Development Leadership Course is a 35-hour training program that teaches practical ways to build organizational capacity in empowerment-based supervision, inter-agency collaboration, strength-based assessment, multicultural competence and professional development.
The Benefits
Family service workers who completed the training program reported increased self-esteem, confidence and assertiveness in helping families, as well as in setting higher education and career goals. They also expressed increased knowledge and use of empowerment-based family support skills in working with families and improved communication and relationship skills in their professional and professional lives.
Participants from family support organizations developed their networking capacities, allowing them to provide families with access to services at inter-agency and cross-system levels, and reported higher staff morale and lower turnover.
Families working with training program participants were able to identify their strengths, set goals and develop plans to reach those goals. They also increased their involvement in agencies, schools and community organizations.
To find out more about Family Development Training or to enroll in a class, contact Gina Beebe of the Children's Trust Fund at (860) 413-8766 or via e-mail
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