Parent Resources
Parent Governance
PICA’s Head Start program is run by parents just like you. You are invited to take part in parent governance opportunities and learn more about areas of agency administration such as program planning and evaluation, finance, human resources, and policy development or to become involved in community government.
Center Committees
The Center Committee for each PICA center is made up of parents from that center. All parents from a center are invited and welcomed to attend. The Center Committee meets monthly with the Center Director to help plan and implement program activities at the center. Center Committees are also responsible for electing delegates to represent their center on the PICA Policy Council.
Policy Council
The PICA Policy Council is made up of parent representatives elected at the Center Committee level, as well as community representatives. The Policy Council reviews and approves funding applications, budgets, personnel actions, and policy changes affecting PICA’s Head Start program. At least 51% of the Policy Council members must be parents of currently enrolled Head Start children.
Head Start programs are governed by a partnership between parents on the Policy Council, the staff, and the governing body of the agency. Head Start is a “federal to local” program i.e., the funding comes from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children & Families, directly to the local agency, or “grantee.” PICA is the grantee in Hennepin County.
Board of Directors
The PICA Board of Directors, made up of community members-at least 50% of whom are past Head Start Parents, sets agency policy and plans programming and funding strategies.
Advisory Committees
Parents are also invited to participate on any of the three Advisory Committees that provide input regarding PICA’s programs and services. The three Advisory Committees are:
- Health and Disability Services Advisory Committee
- Social Services Advisory Committee
- Education Advisory Committee
Valuing the Involvement of Parents (VIP) Committee
Parent involvement is an important part of PICA’s mission. The Valuing the Involvement of Parents, “VIP,” Committee was formed to give parents an opportunity to learn more about all types and levels of representative government and to help them develop the skills to become involved. VIP meets monthly and conducts Parent Forums.
Dates and times of Policy Council, Board meetings, Advisory Committees and VIP Committee are listed on the Agency Calendar.