FIND A COMMON GROUND

FORGET LABELS
MEET IN A FRIENDLY LOCATION

CALL TO FOLLOW UP

Respect Feelings
SAY “I NEED YOUR HELP” SHARE EXPERIENCES

Think Outside the Box VALUE PARENT CONCERN

RESPECT CULTURE
COMMIT TO THE CHALLENGE Be a Model

ADVOCATE

DON’T JUDGE
SMILE

BE A PARTNER
Be Welcoming FOSTER A CONNECTION
MONITOR PROGRESS ASK WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Offer Resources Share Information Take Multiple Roles GIVE PRAISE

Positive ways to engage a parent

Engaging a Parent is a process

BE OPEN TO FAITH Be Positive RESPECT RELIGION Be Authentic

BE SYMPATHETIC

PARENTS ARE HUMAN TOO SAY “I NEED YOUR HELP”

TALK TO, NOT AT

RESPECT LANGUAGE
Network

LEAD SIDE BY SIDE

BE SENSITIVE

ASK “HOW WAS YOUR DAY” BE TRANSPARENT

BE GENUINE

PROVIDE CHILDCARE Give Real Support

Say “I Care” DON’T ASSUME SEND A REMINDER
BE HONEST
FORGET ABOUT STEREOTYPES Meet Half Way

Remember: They know their child the best

 Parent Inquiry Initiative

The Parent Inquiry Initiative, known as Parentii, is a growing

network of individuals across Connecticut supporting community
connections that ensure children’s success in life. We are doing
this by co-creating tools and sharing knowledge that support
parents in making informed decisions.

Core Elements

GOAL:
Building parent capacity to drive community-specific actions
BY:
Parents helping parents get the information they need
Parents accessing resources & networks to support
Parents co-constructing & collaborating communities

GOAL:
Use parent leadership to transform systems
BY:
Transparency of processes
Value parent knowledge through co-production
Shared accountability

Parentii Core Researchers

Carmen James Karla Woodworth

Cheryl Petersen Paige Bray Parentii@Hartford.edu
Doreen Abubakar Timeca Peters
www.hartford.edu/parentii
Erin Kenney