Elected parents from each of Tri-Valley's Migrant Head Start Centers in Minnesota and North Dakota sit on the Policy Council.  They make decisions concerning the entire Migrant Head Start Program.  For example, the Policy Council worked out a budget that would allow six-week centers to be open for seven weeks.

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 Migrant Head Start program or the relative of an employee of Tri-Valley Migrant Head Start program.

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

2. WHAT CAN I EXPECT IF I AM ELECTED?

        The Policy Council meets six times a year.  Summer meetings will be in Minnesota or North Dakota and are on Saturdays, usually in July/August.  The next three will be in Texas during the winter months.  The meetings in Texas can run from 1 to 2 days.  The final meeting will be back in Minnesota or North Dakota, usually in June.

3. 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.

4.  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.

5.  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.