SPONS-AGENCY Administration fot Children, Youth, and Families

Developed as a resource for providers concerhed with issues of parent involvement and family support, this mahual Offers ways to successfully invqlve parents in day care. It provides detailed descriptions of tested approaches to parent involvetent, includiing practigAl tips and implementation strategiet, in order to help prbgrams adapt a given approach to their unique situations. The first of six chapters included in the manual defines parent involvement, highlights some of the benefits which occur when parents are involved in day care programs, and discusses some common ' stumbling blocks encpuntered, as well as some possible solutions. The second chapter provides information on where to start with'parents, including setting realistic goals and assessing parent needs and community resources. Information dbout how to set the stage for-effective paent involvement--including successful communication and, observatioh techniques--is offered in the thirdchapter. The fourth chapter provides a conceptual framework for examining the two major categories of parent involvement in day care: programs supporti'ng parents and parents,in supporting programs. The.fifth Chapter describes illustrative models or approaches to inVolving parents in day care programs. Pr'esentation of each model includes a definition 'of the model; a description of its functional goals; a list of < implementation steps; a.discussion of benefits associated with the model, along-with ail exAminafion of likelpproblems and their sotuqons; and suggeitiOns for resources needed to successfully' implement the modeL The Sixth and dinal chaptentprovides an.annotated bibliography of parent in'volvement tesArces. (MP) f