Parent Advocacy Training
To lead means to have influence. By definition, a parent is a leader.
What training is CURRENTLY available?
FREE Parent Advocacy Training (PAT) is back in 2025 for parents who have experience of the child protection and/or family support system.
What training has the Family Inclusion Network (FIN) offered in the PAST?
Parent Advocacy Training (PAT)
In July 2023, 14 parents with lived experience of the family support and child protection system began Parent Advocate Training. In October, 10 of those parents graduated from the program! Over 13 weeks, they learnt why the voices of lived experience are so important for improving systems; they learnt how to get involved in systems change and make their voices heard; and they learnt how to participate in systems advocacy in a safe, professional, and effective manner.
The Parent Advocate Training program was co-designed and developed, and co-facilitated, by FIN staff and parents with lived experience of the child protection system. This combination of expertise proved invaluable and was well received by trainee parents.
A 2023 Evaluation of FIN’s Parent Advocate Training Program demonstrates its effectiveness in developing the skills and confidence of parents to effect positive change in their own lives and beyond.
Read the full evaluation here: Parent Advocate Training Evaluation.
Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)
Previously the Family Inclusion Network (FIN) partnered with the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) from Connecticut, US to empower parents to fulfil their potential as community leaders. The curriculum offered leadership skills and public speaking skills. It also taught a process of government and community engagement, through which PLTI parents became positive change agents for children.
PLTI was open to parents and kin who wanted to make positive changes in their communities for children and families.
The goals of PLTI were to effect positive family leadership development by:
- helping parents become leaders in their communities by engaging in issues that impacted on children and families
- building on the skills and capacity of parents to be change agents on a neighbourhood, local, and state level
- developing supportive communities of parents
- facilitating parent involvement in state and local policy decision-making processes
- increasing parent-child interaction through parent involvement.
PLTI was a first-of-its-kind family civics program. Graduates spent more than 120 hours to develop skills needed to become effective leaders in their communities. Once recruited and accepted into the program, participants attended a 20-week program that incorporated personal development, leadership training, civic literacy, and civic participation skills.
PLTI graduates made and are still making a significant impact within their communities. Through their community projects, they demonstrated that when given the social and leadership tools, families can guide public policy and decision making directly and indirectly though their actions and commitment to children, youth, and the community.
Training
Parents were offered four components of training:
- a 1-day retreat to develop group cohesion and define program mission
- phase 1: parent leadership with a focus on finding your voice, difference, values, and problem definition
- phase 2: the study of local, state and federal government, policy development, and utilising the media
- a community project to practice their new skills within a community framework.
Selection
Parents were selected for each class with consideration given regarding how their involvement would enhance diversity, strength, and learning for the group as a whole. A total of up to 30 applicants were selected.
Who Attended?
Parents, teen parents, grandparents, and other adults who wished to improve the lives of children, families, and communities.
Program Details
There were no fees in this program other than time and commitment to mentor the next classes. Dinner and childcare were provided for all classes.
For more information, please contact us.