Parent Leadership Program

Parent Leadership

Parents play a vital role in our communities. They improve the lives of their families, neighbors, and communities by nurturing their children, lending a helping hand to others, partnering with community resources, and advocating for initiatives that support children and families. Building the skills and confidence of parents as advocates for themselves and their families is part of our approach across all our programs and is the focus of our Parents as Leaders program.

Applications Deadline Extended for 2026 Parent Leader Consultants

Applications close on February 13th. Learn more about the program and eligibility below.

Apply here

Parents as Leaders Program

The Parents as Leaders program at FamilyWise provides training to parents with expertise navigating family service systems so that they can share the wisdom of their experience with policy makers, family-serving agencies and organizations, and other families in the community.  

The goals of the Parents as Leaders program are to: 

  • Equip parents with tools for effectively sharing their lived experience 
  • Create opportunities for parents to influence policies and practices affecting families 
  • Promote protective factors that improve child safety and keep families strong  
  • Address systemic barriers that prevent fair and just access and outcomes for all families 

Participants in the program, known as Parent Consultants, receive training, mentorship, and financial support to bring their unique parent perspectives to state and local work groups, committees, task forces, and other groups. 

Program Eligibility 

To become a Parent Consultant, participants must meet the following criteria: 

  • A current parent or caregiver for a young child(ren) age 0-5 
  • Direct experience being impacted by systems such as adoption or foster care, childcare and early learning support, child protection, juvenile justice, or others.  
  • Desire to help transform systems by sharing your own story and experience 
  • Capacity to build mutually respectful relationships with others from diverse backgrounds 
  • Strong communication skills, including the ability to relate firsthand experience to broader issues faced by Minnesota families 

Expectations of Parent Consultants 

  • Participation in 6 two-hour virtual workshops from February to July 
  • Engagement with other Parent Consultants throughout the 6-month term 
  • Participation in at least one state committee, taskforce, or workgroup (this may include attending educational sessions as needed to gain background for effective participation) 
  • Serving informally as a mentor, educator, and role model for other parents 

Financial Support for Parent Consultants 

In addition to the training and mentorship that participants receive, Parent Consultants will receive a stipend of $600 at the completion of the program.  

Application Process 

To apply, please complete an online Parent Consultant Application Form, including providing two references – one from an agency/organization, and one from an individual person. 

Please submit your application no later than Friday, February 13. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Deputie at 612- 877-7810 or parentleadership@familywiseservices.org      

Final applicants will be selected for a face-to-face or virtual interview by February 20th, 2026.  Selected applicants will begin the program with a virtual kickoff meeting.

Apply here

“Nobody can know what it's like to go through something if they haven't been through it. You can't learn that in a book. That is the beauty of how parents with lived experience are uniquely positioned to create change.” -- FamilyWise Parent Partner

Parent Leadership Conference

Every February, in recognition of National Parent Leadership Month, FamilyWise holds an event centered on parent leadership. Read more about our 2025 event, which brought parents and community and systems leaders together for conversation and learning about how we can address parental stress and support family wellbeing by listening to the wisdom of parents in our communities.