The Head Start Policy Council is a governing body of concerned parents and community people.  The Policy Council meets six times a year, and:

- Assists in planning and coordinating agency-wide activities for parents.

- Assists and encourages parent participation in the program.

- Serves as a link between public and private organizations.

- Initiates suggestions and ideas for program involvement.

- Has approval responsibility before a decision is finalized or action is taken.

- Elects officers for the Policy Council.

1. HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?

        All parents can be involved by attending your local meetings to elect your representatives.  You can also support your representatives by sharing your ideas about your center with them. They can then take your ideas to the Policy Council.

If you would like to be a representative, you must meet certain requirements:

-  You must have a child enrolled in Head Start in the program at the center you wish to represent.

- You may not be an employee of Tri-Valley Head Start program or the relative of an employee of Tri-Valley Head Start program.

- You may not be a representative for more than three years.

2. WILL I BE PAID TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE?

        Federal regulations do not allow us to give anyone a salary to be a representative.  Reimbursable expenses include Policy Council member meals, mileage, and child care expenses as outlined in the Parent Reimbursement Policy.

        Being a representative means committing your time.  By deciding to represent your center, you have the opportunity to meet with other parents in the program and share ideas to help create a program that best meets your family's needs and the needs of the other families in your center.

3. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE POLICY COUNCIL MEETINGS?

        Staff will provide trainings about the program including budgets, regulations, current goals and objectives, and Policy Council operations.  You will be involved in making decisions regarding the overall program.  This includes the plans, policies, budget decisions and staff recommendations.

4. DOES THE POLICY COUNCIL HAVE BY-LAWS?

        The Policy Council has a set of rules of operation, or By-laws, just as the Parent Committee does. The By-Laws of the Policy Council are more detailed because the Policy Council operates in a more formal manner due to the types of decisions the members must make.