Parent uses leadership and advocacy experience gained in Head Start to Success policy council in Washington, D.C.

When Maria Sanchez first enrolled her daughter in Clackamas ESD’s free Head Start to Success preschool program, little did she know that her family’s experience in the program would inspire her to become a parent advocate. The following year, Maria found herself in Washington, D.C., standing alongside families from across the nation, sharing her family’s story and advocating for continued investments in early childhood education. Her journey from Head Start to Success parent to parent advocate is a testament to the transformative power of the Head Start to Success program.

Family engagement is a key part of our Head Start to Success program. Every family is paired with a home visitor who works with them to set goals, access resources in their community, and support children’s learning and development at home, and families are encouraged to participate in Head Start to Success’s policy council meetings. The policy council meetings give families a voice in their children’s education, empowering them to weigh in on policies, provide feedback, and share concerns.

“Policy council empowers families by providing them with a platform to voice their needs and concerns, influencing decision-making processes that directly impact their lives,” explains BranDee Trejo, a Head Start to Success bilingual home visitor.

“Maria’s exemplary leadership skills drive her advocacy for early learning programs, fostering community engagement and empowering families to participate in activities enhancing their well-being. Her unique perspective, shaped by her experience navigating her child’s speech impairment and advocating for services, brings invaluable insight to the cause,” BranDee adds.

Maria’s participation in Head Start’s policy council was just the beginning of her advocacy journey. Participation in the policy council honed her leadership and advocacy skills, and led her to become a member of the county-wide Parent Advisory Council run by the Early Learning Hub of Clackamas County, a member of the Parent Teacher Association at her daughter’s elementary school this year, and this spring, serve as Oregon’s parent representative for the Zero to Three Strolling Thunder annual advocacy day in Washington, D.C.

On April 30, 2024, Maria and 50 other families met with policymakers to tell their stories and ask Congress to take action to build a better future for infants, toddlers and their families. Affordable, high-quality child care, a national paid family and medical leave policy, and more support for infant and early childhood mental health were named as top priorities. 

“Advocating in D.C. was a profound experience,” Maria shares. “It was an honor to tell my family’s story. I went in there fighting for a cause, but the experience was far more than I expected. BranDee personalized guidance and resources tailored to our unique needs. She offered dedication and encouragement to help families like us thrive.”

“This is a wonderful example of what can happen when parents are supported to become leaders and advocates for their children,” said Brett Walker, assistant director of early learning programs at Clackamas ESD. “The Head Start to Success team goes above and beyond to support families.”