Parent Services Project is committed to evaluating our work with parents and applying lessons learned to strengthen our efforts. We collect pre and post data on each Parent Leadership Institute we conduct, and we also take opportunities to expand our learning through deeper evaluation process, in partnership with parent leaders.

Outcome Evaluation
An outcome evaluation was completed on the Parent Leadership Institute in October 2009. To review the full findings, Click Here

 

Evaluation Summary
Sociometrics and Parent Services Project co-conducted an outcome evaluation of the Parent Leadership Institute (PLI) to 1) assess its influence on parents knowledge, leadership capacity, and action, and 2) assess its influence on partner agencies' capacity to support parent leadership and directly engage parents. Data were collected in 2008-2009 through a phone survey with PLI alumni from 2005-2008, an in-person pre/post institute survey with PLI attendees from 2008-2009, an online survey with PLI partner agencies from 2005-2008, and a focus group with parent alumni in San Rafael, CA.

Highlights include:

Increases in parent knowledge, skill and capacity

• Statistically significant increases in parents' community leadership skills, represented by eighth different skill sets (such as communication skills, goal setting, and parent recruitment) after attending PLI.
• Statistically significant increases in parents' sense of themselves as leaders in most areas of their lives after attending PLI, self-described in part as their desire to help others overcome their fears, and take initial leadership steps (like training).
• Trends in a positive direction for all 17 leadership capacity and skills after attending PLI
• Parents with children who haven't yet entered school appear to make extra gains during their PLI experience, especially in areas related to family/school advocacy, community change, and parent recruitment.

Parent leadership actions initiated with credit to past PLI participation

• Many parents made their first leadership connections with schools and other parents during or after attending PLI and credit PLI with much influence for this. First connections during or post-PLI were most common for school-based activities, followed by advocacy activities and wider constituency building.
• The majority of alumni report having been involved in at least one type of other formal training since completing PLI, and the vast majority say that PLI had a lot of impact on seeking out such training.
• Many parents recognize PLI as a life-changing experience, citing their increased sense of confidence, leadership role in their family and community, and their children's improved view of them as parents.

Partner agency capacity and engagement of parents

• The vast majority of agency partners are very satisfied with their PLI experience and PLI partner meetings, especially among community-based agencies..
• The majority also report being able to recruit, engage and make leadership opportunities available to parents, and the positive influence of PLI on their ability to do so.
• The majority of agencies report having helped at least some parents actually take on basic leadership activities (i.e., parent recruitment and alliance building, and PTA attendance), and tend to report a lot of influence of PLI on their ability to do so.
• Most agencies report an increase in the number of parents they have served since partnering PLI, and a capacity for meaningful connections with parents that has been influenced by partnering with PLI.

Quotes from Participants

• "For me the definition of a leader is to have the courage to speak up and act to improve education and the community for our children. My definition of leadership has changed since starting this Institute because I have learned to have the courage to speak directly with teachers and the principal at my children's school."
• "As a leader, I have learned how to select a person with the same interests to support my group or issue and I have talked with parents to involve them in school meetings."
• I have changed in the way that I view things - not just for my own benefit, but for the benefit of all. I learned a great deal about how to involve other parents and that making change requires many people, not just a single individual."

 

Please read the interview in Spanish or in English of Jenny Guerra, who was one the first Parents as Teachers families in Atlanta, Georgia and participated in the Parent Leadership Institute. Article from Atlanta Latino by Alejandra Milojevick Nanco.

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Other Areas Regarding the Parent Leadership Institute

Overview | Partnerships | Program Materials
Research and Development | Other Related Programs