Washington State Parent Ambassadors

Shaping Policy Statewide and Nationally

In the early 2000s, Lori Pittman was a Head Start parent in the Seattle area, training other parents in policy and advocacy work. It was through this role that she met a kindred spirit in Joel Ryan who at the time was with the National Head Start Association. They shared a vision for a program that centered the voices of parents in advocating for equitable and accessible early childhood education and assistance programs. When Ryan relocated to Washington state and became Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP (WSA), he and Pittman collaborated to create and launch the Washington State Parent Ambassador Program.

The Parent Ambassador Program is an advocacy and leadership training program designed to support parents (and grandparents) in utilizing their knowledge and experiences to effect policy change. The curriculum is wide-ranging, including 150 hours of training on legislative advocacy, racial equity and justice, leadership, communications, grassroots organizing, and financial literacy. 

“Often parents, especially low-income parents, are left out of critical discussions,” says Pittman. “The Parent Ambassador Program was created to provide opportunities for parents to be heard.”

Ambassadors receive 16 college credits for completing the program and a certificate in Parent Leadership and Advocacy from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Skagit Valley College. Upon completion, they are responsible for training parents in their local programs and participating in advocacy efforts statewide and nationally. 

DIVERSE PARENTS COMMITTED TO ADVOCACY
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The Parent Ambassador Program seeks parents who are committed to advocating for their children, families, and communities. Experience in advocacy is not required; a desire to learn and commit to completing the year-long project is.

To assist parents who might not otherwise be able to participate, the program provides child care and mileage stipends, as well as covering expenses for traveling to conferences and training.

The program ensures cohorts are equitable and diverse in racial and ethnic representation, gender representation, geographic location, language access, and more. Program team members and special projects leaders come from within the alumni group. 

Making an Impact

Launched in 2009, the Parent Ambassador Program has welcomed more than 400 participants, and the alumni network continues to be active. Since its inception, Parent Ambassadors have had a direct impact on policy changes at the state and federal levels, including:

• Passage of the Fair Start for Kids Act, a $1.1 billion investment to make child care and early learning more affordable for Washington families
• Creation of the Washington state Complex Needs Fund to promote inclusive, least-restrictive environments, and support providers serving children with developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, and/or other unique needs
• Increased access to child care for student parents
• Expansion of national Early Head Start and Head Start programs
• Increased federal funding for mental health services

Parent Ambassadors travel to Olympia to testify at the Washington State Legislature and meet with their Senators and Representatives during the legislative session. They also meet with members of Congress and have even attended meetings at the White House. 

They write letters to newspaper editors, participate in state-wide advisory groups, committees and coalitions, and engage with national organizations like the Children’s Defense Fund, National Women’s Law Center, and the National Head Start Association. 

“Sharing my story with powerful elected officials and being vulnerable and seeing the impact I had first-hand was something I never thought I would experience in my lifetime,” says Maya Washington, a 2021 Parent Ambassador. “It has changed my life, lifted and empowered me, and given me the drive to do the same for others.”

The success of the Parent Ambassador Program has sparked growth in other states. There are now Parent Ambassador programs in Maine, Ohio, Illinois, California, and Massachusetts. Educare sites have adopted the Parent Ambassador model in Arizona and Washington, D.C.

Perigee Support

Perigee Fund provided grant support to the Parent Ambassador program over four years.  The funding enabled the program to increase staff, better support parents, engage in more national networks, and conduct evaluations to ensure continuous improvement.

Parent Ambassadors educate at least 500 parents a year on advocacy, early learning, child care, and family well-being issues.

“When Lori and I began the program, we were turned down for funding because of our focus on parents and our intentionally small class size,” Ryan says. “With the support of Perigee Fund and other partners, we have demonstrated that having a really intensive, high touch, supportive model builds a ripple effect in communities.”