Parent Advocacy Program

Based on information from parent focus groups, Strang launched a parent component to the Healthy Children Healthy Futures program in three cities—Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York— in the Fall of 2003.

The goal of the parent program is to establish a base of 3-5 parent advocates at each after school site. The volunteer parent advocates are trained to use the educational tools of the Healthy Children Healthy Futures program, including the
8 Habits of Healthy Kids™. Parent advocates attend a series of training workshops that enable them to mentor other parents on healthy eating and physical activity in culturally diverse small or large groups.

Using "A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity" and other program materials, parent advocates address parent meetings, advocate for healthy snacks at school events, and identify and help implement successful healthy eating and physical activity programs at their respective sites.

Parent advocates reach the parent population at their school site through meetings, efforts to change nutrition and physical activity policies, and dissemination of program materials adapted from "A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity."

Mothers, fathers and guardians learn from these trained parent advocates the healthy nutrition/physical activity information and skills that are necessary to be role models for their children.

Interested in bringing the Healthy Children Healthy Futures parent program to your school or community site? Click on For Schools.