PARENTS AS ADVOCATES

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

EPIC’s Parents as Advocates Series consists of 5, 2 hour trainings designed to help parents develop expertise in a number of areas that will enhance their ability to advocate for their children, as well as other children. Below are titles and brief descriptions

Advocacy: The Who, What, When, Why & How

This training is designed to help participants understand the importance of advocating for children, describe situations where advocating for children is vital, and to explain tools or techniques for successful child advocacy.

Forming a Winning Team

This training is designed to help participants appreciate the importance of building a working relationship with their child’s teacher through communication, cooperation and coordination. The training addresses different styles of communication and encourages parents to use assertive

communication effectively.

Building a Relationship with Your Child

This training is designed to the help participants understand the role that Developmental Assets play in the academic and social development of children, identify ways of supporting a child’s learning, and strategies for helping children to become more responsible.

School-Based Management and Shared Decision-Making

This training is designed to help participants understand the role that parents and teachers play in the academic life of a child, explain the concept of a school based management team and to explain how decision making models can improve shared decision making processes.

Understanding Assessments and How Schools Work

This training is designed to help participants understand NYS school assessments and the role they play in school funding and evaluation. The training also helps parents understand ways that they can enhance their child’s chances of success on these state wide examinations. The overall goal of this program is to provide parents with the skills necessary to play a crucial role in enhancing their childrens’ chances of academic success.