This is the final and ongoing phase of The COFI Way that covers how to bring together parent teams (built through the Phase 1 and Phase 2 process) to work on their first policy change campaign and to build a parent power organization. Phase 3 builds off of the incremental steps during the first two phases. You will learn COFI’s five-step process to policy and systems change, the values behind this work, the first steps to building a parent power organization, and how to implement the advanced parent leader curriculum, including what is policy change and COFI’s theory of policy change, working cross-culturally, strategic planning, and other topics. 

This training teaches how to support parents as they build strong and trust-filled relationships across diverse communities and with professional allies. Phase 3 training is aimed at creating a tight cross-cultural organization of parents who work together to create policy and systems change.

At the Phase 3: Policy & Systems Change train-the-trainer/train-the-organizer session you will learn:

• How COFI built the POWER-PAC IL organization – bringing together parent teams from across the city and the state
• How to plan for and launch your first campaign with diverse parent teams
• Creating an organizational structure
• What is policy & systems change and COFI’s theory of policy change
• Skill-building sessions on choosing an issue, working cross-culturally, strategic planning, and negotiating with policymakers. 

Phase 3 training will be held at the beautiful and peaceful Q Center on the Fox River – 50 miles west of Chicago (at 1405 North Fifth Ave., St. Charles, IL 60174). 

Registration fee is $925 for the Tuesday afternoon through Friday afternoon training. Room and board costs are variable at the Q Center but should run about $750 for the three days and three nights.

*It is highly recommended that you attend Phase 1: Self, Family & Team + Team Building and Phase 2: Community Outreach & Action before taking Phase 3: Policy & Systems Change. If you have not attended Phases 1 and 2,  please contact Jennifer Little for approval before registering.

**If you’ve completed COFI’s Phase 1 & Phase 2 Train-the-Trainer / Organizer, and are actively building a parent organization, and you want to attend Phase 3 but training cost is a barrier, email Jennifer Little for our training scholarship application.

Please complete the registration form by May 15, 2024!

Please note: In order to run this training, we need a minimum number of participants. If we don’t have enough, we may need to postpone the training. We will confirm your training registration and next steps with you on/around May 15.