Parent Leadership Institute

The Parent Leadership Institute (PLI) is a parent engagement program operated by Children's Aid in six schools in the South Bronx community of Morrisania. The program aims to improve parents' capacity to effectively engage in the school community in support of their children and increase school staff capacity to create welcoming environments for parent engagement. PLI serves parents of students in grades PK-12 through three core components: (1) parent engagement coordinators (PECs) who collaborate with parents, school staff, and community organizations; (2) dedicated parent resource rooms in schools; and (3) tailored adult education workshops, leadership development activities, and support services. Services include ESL and GED classes, health and wellness workshops, parent leadership training, community resource connections, and activities designed to build parent capacity and comfort in the school environment. The program operated from 2014-15 through 2018-19 school years with funding from an i3 development grant.