The Network: Benefits of Joining

Participate in a National Network

• Be part of a shared participatory leadership model; be involved in work teams and have your voice be heard! Share the resources of the Circle of Parents' members in 28* states Stay abreast of current information on the development of mutual self-help support programs and parent leadershipTap into a national website for mutual self-help programs containing current
  information and researchDialogue with other Circle of Parents' members through a national Listserv
• Attend quarterly teleconference meetings and an annual national meeting with colleagues

Training and Technical Assistance (at no or minimal cost to members)

• Access national technical assistance from current experts in the fieldDownload program resources via an electronic resource librarySend volunteers or staff to a Train the Trainers Institute on group facilitationUse the national facilitator manual Use the national children's program manualUse the parent handbook developed by a national team of parent leaders Participate in technical assistance conference calls with nationally-known speakers several times a yearUtilize national capacity-building / state systems development expertiseParticipate in strength based on-going peer reviewReceive peer mentoringAccess Circle of Parents' national staff expertiseShare resources available through all member organizations
• Participate in bi-annual national conference on child abuse and neglect prevention with networking opportunities and specific tracks dedicated to parent self-help support programs and parent leadership

Parent Involvement Resources Available

• Learn systems for developing or strengthening parent involvement at every level of your organizationParticipate with parents as partners on national network committeesBe part of a national effort to support parent involvement and leadership in all family support and child abuse prevention programs
• Help grow the continuum of parent involvement from groups, to local communities, statewide and on a national level

Advocacy

• Receive advocacy updates on national child abuse prevention agendasGain tools for advocacyUtilize advocacy tools in seeking support for fundingBe part of a national collective voice through the partnerships of Circle of Parents with other national organizations such as: Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Fatherhood Initiative, Parents as Teachers, Healthy Families America and the FRIENDS / CBCAP National Resource Center
• Access experts in advocacy at the national level

Research

• Participate in development of research methodologiesAccess tools and systems for evaluating parent self-help support programs for your use at the state/region levelContribute to research that demonstrates the effectiveness of mutual support, parent self-help and parent leadership strategies Access research and outcomes evaluation information from other state network organizations
• Participate in a national data collection system

Marketing

• Promote your parent self-help groups using a national brand identityBenefit from national promotion of parent self-help groups through various media i.e. newsletters, press releases, articles, brochures, website, etc.Benefit from media campaigns through partners of Circle of ParentsReceive April Child Abuse Prevention Month packets for use and distribution to local communitiesImpact your state network development and local programs through resource development opportunities available through grants accessed by the national office
• Benefit from the support and recognition of the network by Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Child Abuse and Neglect and the Office of Family Assistance (via the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

*As of November 2006

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