Parents as Leaders (PALS) was a five-week Parent Leadership program held at Farm Hill School in Middletown. The idea to offer PALS and the initial coordination began with the Middletown CFI coordinator, several parents, two parent advocates, the parent resource coordinator for the Middletown Board of Education, and the director of the School-based Family Resource Centers.

The group wanted to bring the Parent Leadership Training Program (PLTI) to Middletown but needed proof for funders that it would be a worthwhile venture. The concept was tested with a smaller pilot program of local speakers introducing the concept of parent leadership. Through several discussions, topics were narrowed to five nights. Arrangements were made for dinner and childcare.

The main goal of the series was to bring PLTI to Middletown. With community interest in PALS confirmed, funders would support bringing PLTI to Middletown. The team also wanted to gauge community response to a parent leadership program and to introduce the concept of parent leadership to the community at large.

All the speakers spoke for free. The Family Resource Center provided childcare, and some of the food was donated. The Middlesex Coalition for Children provided further resources. Participants were recruited through flyers, cable television advertising and feature articles in the Hartford Courant and the Middletown Press.

The five-week series consisted of:

Sixteen parents participated in the series with an average of 10 parents per session.

Attendance was consistent and reached parents who ordinarily do not come to such events. Discussions were relevant and engaging. Evaluations were positive, and the presenters were professional and interesting.

Intake forms asked parents; "What concerns do you have for your children and others in your community?" Answers included:

	Lack of parental involvement
	Activities available at low or no cost
	Parenting concerns
	Improved daycare
	Increased options for teens and pre-teens
	School not addressing the needs of children such as healthcare
	Lack of activities for families
	Lack of morals and values
	Lack of programs for children
	The welfare-to-work program
	Acceptance of special needs children in schools.

Suggestions from parents included:

	Family Resource Centers in all schools
	Confidence programs in schools for kids
	Workshops on personality types and parenting styles
	Computer classes for families.

Parents filled out evaluations after each program and then a final one. A total of 30 individual program evaluations were filled out. When asked "How useful do you feel the information which you gained from this workshop will be to you?" most indicated the information was very or mostly useful. Overall ratings from the final evaluations all received good or excellent ratings for content, delivery, discussion and location. When asked if they would recommend the series to others, all said "yes." When asked if they felt better informed, all responded "yes" or "somewhat."

This was meant to be a one-time program that proved a community interest in parent leadership training opportunities. Because of its success, PLTI has begun in Middletown.

No obstacles were encountered in conducting this project. Overall, the program was considered successful by the design team.

Our success with the pilot program, PALS, allowed us to show our funders (United Way, Board of Education, Middletown Housing Authority and Middlesex Coalition for Children) that the Parent Leadership Training Institute would be a useful and beneficial program for Middletown.

Newspaper articles and general press about the series also helped to spread the word about Parent Leadership. At least five of those who participated in PALS are now enrolled in PLTI. The positive press also generated interest for others in PLTI.

Middletown CFI Coordinator, (860) 343-1540

Ms. Butler has always been active in advocating for children. However since she completed the PLTI program, she has developed, as she says, "a lot of new tools to help myself advocate better than I did before. I found that there are a lot of skills I can use that I never had before. And now that I have learned them, I'm more effective."

She has also seen the effect her involvement has had on her daughter. "When children see their parents get involved in the extracurricular activities, it brings them out as well. My daughter has been in plays, is on the drill team and is joining our church choir. It has helped her overcome some of her shyness."