Policymakers often have good intentions when they bring community members to decision-making tables, but they don\u2019t always know how to support them effectively. What does it take to genuinely include community members into a system and support them?<\/p>\n
In a recent webinar<\/span><\/a>, COFI Parent Leaders Yolanda and Liliana<\/strong>, joined with other parent leaders as well as staff members from Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), to unpack this alongside Illinois Action for Children<\/a> (IAFC)<\/strong> and partners across Illinois. The webinar highlighted the ongoing work of COFI and IAFC to incorporate parents into a statewide early childhood decision-making table, a process that has been ongoing for nearly a decade, as well as a new joint report by COFI and IAFC: \u201cLessons from the Family Advisory Committee & Family Engagement Workgroup<\/span><\/a>.”<\/p>\n \u201cParents led this work and have been leading this work,\u201d said Bri Stormer, Senior Policy and Engagement Specialist at IAFC. \u201cWe want you to see how that came to be.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It started in 2015 when COFI parent leaders asked the State to reconsider how they engaged parents. At the time, Illinois had an Early Learning Council (ELC) made up of governor-appointed members, which included only one parent.<\/p>\n Yolanda said it was intimidating and challenging to follow along during meetings for several reasons. Policymakers would use jargon and acronyms that were unfamiliar to those outside of the system. Additionally, for Spanish speakers, there wasn\u2019t an interpreter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt went over my head,\u201d Yolanda said and added that meetings didn\u2019t always cover issues that were important to parents. \u201cWe let them know that we were really interested in being a part of the Council, and we wanted to participate and shared a proposal for how we might be able to incorporate parents.\u201d<\/p>\n State policymakers agreed that something needed to change, recognizing that they needed a different approach to engaging parents. \u201cWe started to dream together,\u201d said Liliana about the planning process that included parents, partners and State officials. \u201cWe really wanted to have something that was representing all [of] the state. We researched many different models of parent advisory councils across the country like Michigan, Minneapolis, so we could think about how we would make it work and improve it for our families in Illinois.\u201d<\/p>\n The process was long, and it didn\u2019t happen overnight. However, everyone was eager to do the work to create an equitable system for genuine participation and engagement.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The webinar went on to explain the results of the work – the creation of two groups that informed COFI and IAFC’s report \u2013 the Family Advisory Committee (FAC)<\/strong> that advised the Early Learning Council and Family Engagement Workgroup (FEW)<\/strong> that advised the state on ways to incorporate family leadership into future early learning decision-making, particularly in the newly created Illinois Department of Early Childhood.<\/p>\n IAFC staffed and supported the groups as they developed best practices for family engagement, while COFI provided organizing and leadership training. The training helped leaders build relationships and recognize themselves as leaders in their families, communities, and the early childhood system and grew their skills as advocates.<\/p>\n All of this work is captured in COFI and IAFC\u2019s joint report: \u201cLessons from the Family Advisory Committee & Family Engagement Workgroup<\/a><\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n But the work is far from over! As Bri said during the webinar: \u201cWe want you to see the role of continuous, quality improvement in creating and refining parent engagement practices. We are never done with this work\u2026 but that doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t soldier forward.\u201d<\/p>\n COFI is continuing to partner with Illinois Action for Children to support parents from across the state to inform the new Department of Early Childhood plan. Stay tuned for more information!<\/p>\n Drop us a line at cofi@cofionline.org<\/a>, and let us know what you think of the webinar or report! Or, if you\u2019re interested in the training that FEW and FAC received from COFI, please reach out to The COFI Center for Action and Learnin<\/a>g at coficenter@cofionline.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n View the June webinar: \u201cSupporting Family Leadership in State Level Policy Making.<\/a><\/span>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COFI Parent Leaders Yolanda and Liliana spoke about their roles in creating and sustaining a statewide parent-led group informing decision-making for early childhood education and care in Illinois, plus we have a new report! Policymakers often have good intentions when they bring community members to decision-making tables, but they don\u2019t always know how to support […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":33246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"It\u2019s been an exciting and challenging program year! Every year, COFI works with parent teams across Chicago neighborhoods and Illinois communities to organize and take action within their own local schools and communities.\r\n\r\nParents make it look easy, but the truth is, it hasn\u2019t been a year without challenges and threats to Black and Brown communities. The new presidential administration has brought forward racist rhetoric by attacking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and our immigrant communities. They\u2019ve rolled back programs and investments that have been stepping stones for families and communities that COFI and POWER-PAC IL leaders have been building since 1995. (POWER-PAC IL is COFI's parent-led membership organization, which you can read more about here!<\/a><\/span>)\r\n\r\nNevertheless, parents have persisted! It\u2019s a reminder that parent-led change is the key to The COFI Way<\/em><\/a> <\/span>of making changes happen. We\u2019re proud to share just a few of our parents\u2019 local accomplishments and highlights from the last year.\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/h3>\n
\u201cIt went over my head.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
FAC (Family Advisory Committee) and FEW (Family Engagement Workgroup) <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\r\n\r\nAurora<\/h2>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web-Aurora-2025-event-600x251.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nAurora worked with 14 new parents, who completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em><\/span><\/a> of COFI's family-focused organizing and leadership training! As part of their training, the parents set a team goal to host a community conversation about mental health. The panelists spoke about the importance of mental health and how racism and the immigrant experience impact an individual's and family's mental health and well-being. Over 65 people attended the even (pictured above)!\u00a0<\/em>\r\n\r\nOutside of training, Aurora and Elgin co-hosted a \u201cShining a Light<\/span><\/a>\u201d forum to share findings and recommendations from COFI and POWER-PAC IL\u2019s parent-led report around mental health policies and supports.\r\nChicago - Northwest, Westside, Southside, and Southwest Sides<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_33219\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"417\"]
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-Group-pic-SPUR-2025-600x404.jpg\")
The Southside branch with Phase 2 graduates at the community forum, where parents talked to administrators about implementing the Whole School Safety policy.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nA big focus of the Chicago local branches and teams has been on advancing the Whole School Safety<\/span><\/a> policy at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), as well as neighborhood safety and mental health.\r\n\r\nPhase 1 graduates from the Southside and Southwest Branches moved on to Phase 2: Community Outreach and Action<\/em> of COFI\u2019s family-focused organizing and leadership training! They knocked on doors in their neighborhoods and held community forums to share their findings and discuss next steps. The Southside focused on student safety and talking to administrators about implementing the Whole School Safety policy that parents won with partners last year<\/span><\/a>. The Southwest side focused on neighborhood safety and building community support for increasing art and sports programming for teenagers.\r\n\r\nThe Westside, Northwest, and Southwest Sides are also training new groups of parents in Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em>.\r\n\r\nParent leaders throughout the Westside came together to push mental health advocacy and create spaces for holistic recharger, from Hay parent leaders normalizing the conversation about mental illness and the stigma surrounding it, to Herzl Parent leaders holding mental health healing circles, to an end-of-the-year Women\u2019s Mental Health event and resource fair.\r\n\r\nThe Southwest team at Juarez High School set a team goal of improving safety in the hallways and created a parent patrol to help students feel safe. And parents at Clemente focused on Whole School Safety and met with new CPS School Board member Michilla Blaise.\r\n\r\nOutside of training, the Chicago branches came together to host a candidates' Meet and Greet<\/span><\/a> for Chicago\u2019s first-ever Elected Representative School Board election. They invited candidates from POWER-PAC IL districts (Districts 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10) and asked them about their views on Whole School Safety, mental health, and early learning.\r\nEast St. Louis\/Metro-East Area<\/h2>\r\nTwo parent action groups are on the move in the Metro-East area! One group is in East St. Louis, and the other is in Brooklyn, which was recently spotlighted by the Chicago Tribune as the oldest Black town in America<\/a>. The two groups came together and are hosting a Family Literacy Night in early July, as part of their Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em> training.\r\n\r\nThroughout the year, Parents United for Change (PUFC) branch leaders have focused on addressing transportation issues and improving school lunches for their children. In February, they officially joined School District 189\u2019s transportation committee to discuss solutions to busing. Parents have also conducted lunch surveys and partnered with the district\u2019s Food Manager and Wellness committee to offer healthier lunch options.\r\n\r\nFinally, branch members co-hosted an event with local organizations on June 7, called Power Exchange: Transforming the Future of the East St. Louis Area. It was an opportunity to bring residents together, educate the community about local issues and ongoing change efforts, and build a collective vision for the community. PUFC parents led workshops on food insecurity and mental health for participants!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_33217\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"385\"]
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-ESTL-power-exchange-600x450.jpg\")
East St. Louis Parent Monique facilitates a discussion at the Power Exchange event.[\/caption]\r\nElgin<\/h2>\r\nFourteen new Elgin parents completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em> this year. Many of them shared individual financial goals and then set a collective team goal of hosting a financial education series with three workshops: \"Your Money, Your Family,\" \"Financial Peace,\" and \"Your Story and Your Finances.\" (A group picture is featured above!)<\/em>\r\n\r\nOutside of training, parents also hosted a dual language event, where community members heard from students, parents, and school administrators about the benefits and challenges of students enrolled in dual-language classes.\r\n
Evanston<\/h2>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-Evanston-2025-600x479.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nTen new graduates completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team <\/em>(pictured above)! Their team-building goal is focused on healthy lifestyles and well-being, which includes hosting a nutritional cooking class for the Evanston branch at the start of the new school year in Fall 2025!\r\n\r\nOutside of training, the branch also held two big events! School board and city council elections took place this year, and parents hosted a bilingual breakfast with the candidates. Additionally, they held a \u201cShining a Light\u201d forum to build support for POWER-PAC IL\u2019s parent-led recommendations around mental health services.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nNew Communities<\/h1>\r\n
Rockford<\/h2>\r\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/cofionline.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/web-Rockford-2025-600x450.jpg\")
\r\n\r\nParents from Lewis Lemon in Rockford completed Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team <\/em>(pictured above)! This summer, they will plan to attend some of the Saturday summer street market events together with their families to continue building relationships as a team. Also, Aurora Parent Leader Liliana Olayo co-led training with COFI Organizer Talibah Moore! Way to go, Lili and Talibah!\r\nWaukegan<\/h2>\r\nCOFI co-trained, with staff from HACES<\/a><\/span> (Hispanic American Community Education and Services), 35 Parent Mentors from 6 schools in Self, Family, and Team this year. The group had several team goals, one of which was to implement a Little Library outside of a school that was built by parents who secured the book donations.\r\n
Plano<\/h2>\r\nCOFI Parent Leaders from Aurora - Liliana Olayo, Marisol Luna, and Zor Zapata - peer trained 17 parents in Plano (Kendall County) in Phase 1: Self, Family, and Team<\/em>. The training was hosted by PAASSS (Plano Area Alliance Supporting Student Success)<\/span><\/a> and sponsored by Illinois Action for Children<\/span><\/a>\u2019s CS3 initiative. The parents were part of a community event where they publicly launched their parent team, Plano Families with Vision, and shared information about art workshops they are hosting this summer. Great job, Plano!","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[40,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cofi-center-for-action-and-learning","category-early-learning-campaign"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n