FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL PARENT LEADERSHIP MONTH
Honoring Parents as Heroes and Community Leaders
February is National Parent Leadership Month, dedicated to recognizing the important role of parents and caregivers in their homes and community. In recognition of National Parent Leadership Month 2022, the Alliance honors parents as heroes and celebrates the important role that culture has in shaping different communities across our nation.
The Alliance is committed to this work (see our Theory of Change) and we recognize the strong role culture plays in the lives of families and communities. The image featured on this year’s certificate stems from our work around preventing child neglect and the socio-ecological model. For families to be strong families they need the support of their communities.
Parent Leadership is a critical and effective way to help families identify and build upon their strengths for themselves and their families. In addition, Parent Leadership is a necessary component in every community and can help with building strength-based communities that thrive based on protective factors. Parents use protective factors for healthy and empowering ways to respond to the opportunities presented in everyday life.
Community culture shapes how families build protective factors using everyday actions. Small but significant changes create strong and supportive communities. Families that live in strong and supportive communities, also have greater outcomes. Please download the 2022 certificates, social media images and other tools to help us in letting parents know how much we appreciate them and celebrate cultural ties to their communities.
2022 CERTIFICATES
This year’s certificate is a coloring page. Two versions are available: One that is blank and may be colored with colors that match the culture of your organization or community. The other is already colored to represent the culture of the Alliance. Please use these fillable certificates to honor the parents who are partnering with you to make a difference in your communities. Besides text fields, the certificates have images fields for a signature and your organization’s logo. We invite you to share your completed certificates with us.
PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY AS NATIONAL PARENT LEADERSHIP MONTH
The Alliance is sharing some tools for you to use to personalize your National Parent Leadership Month celebration in your state, county, local community or organization. Please use them to request a proclamation be created, some sample language to support the creation of a proclamation and possible talking points if you are asked to accept the proclamation. These are just samples, so feel free to customize them to meet your needs.
- Letter requesting a proclamation (Word Document)
- Sample proclamation (Word Document)
- Sample proclamation (PDF Fillable Form)
- Talking points when accepting the proclamation (PDF)
Let us know if you got a proclamation. Just click on the button below and answer a few questions. We would love to celebrate with you and share your accomplishments in honoring parents in your community. If you take pictures of any special events this month, please tag us with #ctfparentHERO or #ctfcommunitystrong. And upload them to the proclamation form below.
ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY 2022
Families love to have fun! Download our printable February 2022 calendar that is full of inspiring ideas, actions, shareable moments and ways you can engage and celebrate time with your family. We would love to see pictures of you doing any of these activities getting tagged with #ctfparentHERO or #ctfcommunitystrong as we celebrate National Parent Leadership month together.
SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGES TO SHARE
Help us get the word out about our innovative National Parent Leadership Month tools: a unique coloring page parent leader certificate, a sample proclamation, a fun activity calendar, social media images and parent hero stories. Thank you for downloading these social media images and disseminating them.
Conversations with Parent HEROES
PARENTS SHARE HERO STORIES
Research shows that real growth can happen when people experience adversity. Watch the following short videos to hear what members of the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council (ANPPC) have learned during this time, how their strengths have shaped better outcomes for their families and what supports they need most.
Victoria Hilt (3 min)
Betty Emery-Hawkins (3 min)
Edward Casillas (2 min)
Maggie Fye (3 min)
WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF COMMUNITY?
We asked three members of the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council (ANPPC) what comes to mind when they think of community. They each had a different answer. Watch the following short videos to hear how they define community and compare their answers to what community means to you.
We invite you to engage your community in responding to the “what comes to mind when you think of community” question. If you are a member of an organization that values parent heroes, consider using this question to help reveal some of the heroic wisdom and experience that makes your communities strong.
Please share what you learn with us HERE. Feel free to DOWNLOAD the social media image to start the conversation about what comes to mind when you think of community.
Betty Emery-Hawkins (2 min) – “The stronger the family the stronger the community.”
Maggie Fye (1 min) – “Community is where you live…the group that you go to church or work with.”
Victoria Hilt (2 minutes) – “My community surrounds me, lifts me up and provides support.”
WHAT IS IT ABOUT COMMUNITIES THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR SUPPORTING FAMILIES?
Three members of the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council (ANPPC) share what they think is important for communities when it comes to supporting families. Watch the following videos to hear their answers and compare them to what you think is important.
Please engage your community in responding to the “what is it about communities that you think is important for supporting families” question. Share what you learn with us HERE. Feel free to DOWNLOAD the social media image to start the conversation about what comes to mind when you think of community.
Betty Emery-Hawkins (2 min) – “Community is love.”
Maggie Fye (2 min) – “A supportive community holds my hand.”
Victoria Hilt (2 minutes) – “Trust. Connection. Vulnerability. And Communication.”
HEROES Social Media Campaign
Our National Parent Leadership Month social media campaign is organized and continuing around the theme: HERO – Healthy Empowering Response to Opportunity. The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council (ANPPC) has created and are sharing images and messages focused on parents as heroes in their community. There are images for each letter and corresponding words with activities and resources to support parents and their families in February.
When you click to download the images, you will download a JPEG of the image. Web links are not live in a JPEG, so be sure to include the tiny URL link provided with the image when sharing on social media. There is a suggested message for you to copy and use when posting the image on social media. This text provides links directly to the referenced resources and includes the hashtag #ctfparentHERO.
WEEK 1 – H is for HEALTHY
'H' Is for HEALTHY Habits
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “H” in HERO is for HEALTHY because even heroes need to take care of themselves. Download this calendar to build HEALTHY habits into your hero routine: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/self-care-september. #ctfparentHERO DOWNLOAD
'H' is for HEALTHY and Supportive Communities
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “H” in HERO is for HEALTHY. As a parent hero, Victoria talks about how communities support HEALTHY and strong families at ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/parent-voice. #ctfparentHERO
'H' is for HEALTHY Parent Partnerships
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “H” in HERO is for HEALTHY. Use the ANPPC’s tool to build HEALTHY parent partnerships at ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/anppc. #ctfparentHERO
'H' is for HEALTHY and Strong Families
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “H” in HERO is for HEALTHY and strong families. Access a free online training all about the protective factors at ctfalliance.org/protective-factors. #ctfparentHERO
WEEK 2 – E is for EMPOWERING
'E' Is for EMPOWERING Relationships
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “E” in HERO is for EMPOWERING yourself and others to build stronger relationships. Learn how 10-seconds can boost mental health and build positive relationships: https://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-power-of-10-second-relationships #ctfparentHERO
'E' is for EMPOWERING Community Resources
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “E” in HERO is for EMPOWERING. Parent hero Betty EMPOWERS her community resources – her peoples – to be suppportive at ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/parent-voice. #ctfparentHERO
'E' Is for EMPOWERING Encouragement
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “E” in HERO is for EMPOWERING yourself to ENCOURAGE others in your family and community. Check out these 12 ways you can spread encouragement: https://weeksmakelives.com/12-best-ways-encourage-someone/
#ctfparentHERO
'E' Is for EMPOWERING Conversations
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “E” in HERO is for EMPOWERING CONVERSATIONS in your community. Use the ANPPC’s “Conversations for a Better Normal” to share, connect and dream on how families can thrive in your community: https://ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/anppc
#ctfparentHERO
WEEK 3 – R is for RESPONSE
'R' Is for a RESPONSE with Love
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “R” in HERO is for RESPONSE because parent heroes RESPOND with love. Use this assessment to learn about your child’s love language: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/child-quiz. #ctfparentHERO
'R' is for a RESPONSE with Love
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “R” in HERO is for RESPONSE. Parent hero Edward RESPONDS with love for his family and community during crisis. Watch Edward’s video at ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/parent-voice. #ctfparentHERO
'R' Is for a RESPONSE to 'How Are You?'
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “R” in HERO is for RESPONSE. Learn how to RESPOND more deeply to the “how are you” question so your community can connect, support and encourage you: https://tinyurl.com/question-how-are-you. #ctfparentHERO
'R' Is for RESPONSE to National Community
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “R” in HERO is for a RESPONSE to a national community. Join the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) and participate in for our first quarterly webinar Feb. 17. We’re celebrating National Parent Leadership Month! ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parentsbpnn
#ctfparentHERO
WEEK 4 – O is for OPPORTUNITY
'O' is for a OPPORTUNITY to Talk
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “O” in HERO is for OPPORTUNITY. Black History Month is an OPPORTUNITY for parent heroes to discuss racism with your children. Check out these conversation starters: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/talking-to-your-kids-about-racism. #ctfparentHERO
'O' is for OPPORTUNITY to Ask for Help
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “O” in HERO is for OPPORTUNITY. During a crisis, parent hero Maggie takes OPPORTUNITIES to ask for and accept help from her family and community. Watch Maggie’s video at ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/parent-voice. #ctfparentHERO
'O' is for OPPORTUNITY to Explore Cultures
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The “O” in HERO is for OPPORTUNITY to learn about the cultures that make up your community. Use these tips to help your children value cultural diversity: tinyurl.com/community-cultures. #ctfparentHERO
'O' is for OPPORTUNITY to Explore Parenting Tools
(Suggested message for sharing on social media)
The Alliance National Parent Partnership Council is happy to celebrate National Parent Leadership month with you and the parent heroes you serve. The O” in HERO is for OPPORTUNITY. Use this OPPORTUNITY to check out the ANPPC’s resources for parents created by parents: ctfalliance.org/partnering-with-parents/anppc. #ctfparentHERO