Parent Voices (www.parentvoices.org), a project of the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, is a parent-run, parent-led grassroots effort that works to make quality child care accessible and affordable to all families. Parent Voices works to strengthen the capacity of parents to be effective advocates for their child care concerns. The program combines leadership development, advocacy, and community organizing to achieve its goals related to increased funding, quality improvement, and better access to child care.
Parent Voices chapters are hosted by local R&Rs in diverse counties across the state. Training in civic engagement combines with meetings, special events, and media exposure to support parents to become active participants in the political process. Parent Voices chapters and members have testified before legislative and budget committees, helped draft legislation, organized candidate forums, registered voters, and encouraged scores of parents to become active in both the process to create appropriate public policy and in Parent Voices.
