Head Start program leaders and staff can use this resource — created with Head Start parents — to learn what family voice means, why it matters, and how to use it to improve services and policies.

Defining “Parent” and “Family”

In this resource, “parent” and “family” mean any adult who helps care for a child. This includes:

• Biological, adoptive, and foster parents
• Pregnant women and expectant families
• Parents who live outside the home
• Grandparents
• Legal or informal guardians
• Adult siblings
• Other family members

What Family Voice Means

The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) worked with a group of Head Start parents and staff to define “family voice.” This group included 14 Head Start parents, two Head Start staff, and two early childhood advisors.

Together, they followed a co-design process where parents and staff worked side-by-side to share ideas and make decisions to create a shared definition:

"Family voice means honoring the different perspectives, experiences, and expertise of families and caregiving communities."

Families and Head Start staff can elevate family voice by building strong, trusting relationships that include:

• Recognizing that family voice is necessary and fundamental
• Trusting and respecting one another
• Sharing power and influence
• Committing to learning together
• Honoring families as leaders and experts in their lived experience

Why Family Voice Matters

Family expertise plays a key role in shaping early childhood programs. When families share their ideas and experiences, programs can create better policies and improve outcomes for children and families.

Programs improve services when they listen to families and use their ideas. The Head Start Program Performance Standards require programs to engage families to support their well-being and promote children’s learning and development (45 CFR § 1302.50).

Family engagement means families, leaders, and staff work together. It's built on:

• Respecting families
• Knowing each family is different
• Making sure families’ voices are part of decisions

Engagement works best when program staff invite families to share ideas and support them as leaders.

Putting Family Voice into Practice

After defining family voice and why it matters, five principles were developed to help Head Start programs elevate family voice in daily practice.

Principles of Family Voice

1. Value family voice as essential to program success
2. Show mutual trust and respect
3. Share power and influence
4. Commit to learning together
5. Honor families as leaders and experts

These principles align with the strengths-based attitudes and relationship-based practices. These approaches show how families’ knowledge and experiences matter and build trust so families feel heard and supported.

Attitudes and practices guide staff’s work with families. The family voice principles build on this. They focus on families as leaders and decision-makers. Programs offer more ways for families to lead, not just through Policy Councils or Parent Committees. Families help shape decisions and take on leadership roles.

Making Family Voice Thrive in Your Program

Family voice can thrive in Head Start programs and communities when staff:

• Support families in fully taking part in the program
• Respond to families’ input by improving policies, procedures, and practices
• Recognize families as leaders who help shape decisions and support program goals

And when families:

• Share their unique knowledge, skills, and experiences to support change
• Feel valued and included
• Use their voices to help improve the program and make a difference

Family Voice in Action

The following activities explain how each principle of family voice works in real Head Start programs. Each principle includes a short description, a scenario that brings the principle to life, and reflection questions to help you apply it in your work.

Principle 1. Value Family Voice as Essential to Program Success

Discover how partnering with families and elevating their voices improves services and strengthens your program.

Principle 2. Show Mutual Trust and Respect

Explore how thoughtful conversations and shared planning build trust between families and staff — and help children grow and thrive.

Principle 3. Share Power and Influence

Learn how inviting families to lead and share ideas helps shape program decisions and create spaces that reflect their voices.

Principle 4. Commit to Learning Together

Understand how ongoing collaboration helps families and staff learn together, build trust, and support shared goals in the community.

Principle 5. Honor Families as Leaders and Experts

Discover how recognizing family strengths and leadership helps drive meaningful change in your program and the community.