Council on Rural Services (CORS) is pleased announce that three of our Head Start parents have been named to the Ohio Head Start Parent Ambassador program.  Chosen are Dana Gwinn and Jodi Helmandollar from Miami County/Piqua and Felicia Watson from Miami County/Troy.

Liz Schoonover, Early Childhood Director said, “I am beyond proud to have three parents from CORS Head Start and Early Head Start programs participating in the Ohio Head Start Association Inc. (OHSAI) Parent Ambassador Program this coming year.  Each parent has been active in advocating for their children locally.  Each parent has a unique story to tell.  Each parent has a success to be proud of.  I am honored that I will be accompanying three of our finest parents to Capitol Hill during the National Head Start Winter Leadership Institute in January 2017.”

These three Head Start representatives will participate in a year-long parent advocacy and leadership training by attending the OHSAI meetings bi-monthly.  These trainings are focused to teach the parents to be an advocate for Head Start on a local level as well as the state and national level.  The Ambassadors will complete over 60 hours of trainings on a wide variety of topics some of which include: self-awareness where they will learn to see their own strengths and capabilities and how to use them, There will also be discussions of speaking publicly, helping them to identify their own story and to put it in a short and meaningful delivery. They will learn about protocol for visiting the US Congressional Offices in preparation for the Leadership Institute and visiting their local US Congressional and Senate Offices.

Watch for more information as we keep you updated on their progress and visit in January to Washington DC.

For more information about the services of Council on Rural you can call 937-778-5220, check our Web site at   www.councilonruralservices.org or “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/councilonruralservices

Council on Rural Services provides education, support, and volunteer services through Kids Learning Place™, Head Start, Early Head Start, Gateway Youth Programs, Achievement Center for Educational Success (ACES) and Community Connectors in their 9 county service area