Purpose of the Network

Family Involvement Impact Networks serve the following two purposes:

1. To engage parents early on in their children’s education, sustain parent interest and involvement and empower parents to become effective advocates for their children, families and community.

2. To assist parents in overcoming the challenges related to increasing parents’ ability to participate in parent involvement activities and support their child’s educational experience.

Limited parent involvement activity may be attributable to a lack of childcare or to a range of issues from domestic violence to limited English language ability. The Network serves as a link to connect parents to the resources that will meet their needs, freeing up time and energy to become more involved with their children’s education.

Network Core Features
All networks are working toward having all of the following core program features that distinguish them from other community and citywide networks. Networks include the following core features:

• Community-wide Parents Association

• Capacity Building and Training

• Information Dissemination

• Membership Benefits including “PRIDE” Points

• Locally Tailored (Bottom-Up) Programs

Network Membership
Network membership entitles all Network parents to a number of benefits including: updates on school issues, advance invitations to special events and educational forums, peer support through the community-wide parents association and eligibility for “Pride Points”.

“Pride Points” can be earned by doing a variety of activities that involve person in their child’s education (calling a teacher, attending a school assembly, chaperoning a field trip, etc.). Level of time commitment and effort needed to carry out each activity will vary. The goal is to encourage activities that are accessible to all parents and caregivers regardless of work schedules, time and/or transportation constraints. Once a designated number of points are achieved, members can earn rewards and special recognition in their community.

Network Neighborhoods
Family Involvement Impact Networks are currently working in the two South Bronx communities of Hunt’s Point and Mott Haven. Family Involvement Networks builds on and links to existing partnerships, coalitions and organizations that work to build supportive environments for children and families. Network communities are targeted based on need, readiness and the availability to community resources to support their development and on-going operation.

For more information on the Family Involvement Impact Network project, please call the
Agenda for Children Tomorrow (ACT) at
(212) 487-8284.