Investing in the Power of Families Mission Moment 

This month’s 2024 Challenge Grant awardee spotlight is Any Baby Can Texas. They were awarded $50,000 under the Family Leadership category to establish a Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) – a vital initiative aimed at amplifying parent voices in agency decision-making. The PAC is designed to be structured and sustainable, ensuring long-term engagement of parents as advocates and advisors.

With the support of grant funding, Any Baby Can Texas enlisted a consultant to guide them through an in-depth development process. The objectives of the PAC include:

✔ Creating a structured and sustainable advisory body
✔ Strengthening parent representation in agency decisions
✔ Enhancing outreach and advocacy efforts to benefit families

Maria Gonzales, Director of Programs, shares the early impact of this initiative:

“Families feel empowered as they see their input directly influencing services and policies. PAC members gain leadership skills and a sense of ownership in our programs. Additionally, we can better tailor services to meet the expressed needs of parents, ensuring greater relevance and effectiveness. This initiative also fosters community awareness, inclusive decision-making, and policy influence.”

By investing in parent leadership and advocacy, Any Baby Can Texas is not only improving program effectiveness but also creating lasting change within the broader community.

Parents as Teachers applauds your dedication to embedding parent voice throughout their program.