Parent Voices Matter: Cultivating Resilient Parent Advisory Committees

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An active Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a cornerstone for fostering meaningful parent engagement, cultivating leadership skills, and advancing program outcomes. Building on insights from network members across three states, the National Family Support Network (NFSN) has developed a highly impactful training program to help program staff unlock the full potential of PACs. Designed to adapt to today’s diverse and evolving needs, this virtual training spans two half-day sessions and provides practical strategies and tools to either establish or strengthen a PAC.

Rooted in the nationally adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support and the Principles of Family Support Practice, this training equips participants with a proven framework for building PACs that thrive in diverse community settings. Participants will explore the transformative impact of PACs, examine lessons learned from successful implementation, and learn strategies that consistently drive positive outcomes. A unique highlight of this training is the opportunity to hear directly from a parent leader actively serving on a PAC, offering firsthand perspectives on the challenges and rewards of parent leadership.

Participants will leave the training with a comprehensive understanding of PAC fundamentals, including how to identify who should be involved, why their engagement matters, and what steps ensure immediate and sustainable success. The training also empowers participants to develop actionable strategies for enhancing existing PACs or launching new ones, fostering confidence and clarity as they build collaborative leadership models.

Co-facilitated by two experts with deep experience in PAC development, this training offers participants the benefit of diverse perspectives. One facilitator brings extensive expertise in program design and implementation, while the other shares the lived experience of a parent participant who continues to actively serve on a PAC in Texas. Together, they model the strength of staff-parent collaboration and exemplify the transformative power of shared leadership in creating impactful programs.

This updated training integrates three distinct PAC models from Georgia, Texas, and Wisconsin, ensuring its relevance across a variety of demographics and program contexts. Participants consistently praise the training’s effectiveness, with 96% reporting that it enhanced their knowledge and skills, providing them with the tools needed to achieve measurable success in developing and sustaining PACs. Discover how this training can elevate parent participation and help your program thrive!

Cost and Scheduling Details:
The training costs $7,500 for NFSN Members and $8,000 for non-Members for up to 40 participants. Two sessions are available at a discounted rate of $14,000 for Members and $15,000 for non-Members. The total training time is 11 hours, typically divided into two consecutive days (e.g., 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM daily). Start and end times can be customized to accommodate participant needs. To schedule hosting a training, please click here and fill out the training request form.

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Upcoming Open PAC Trainings: ​

• 2025 Dates Coming Soon! 

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