Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)
Apply Today
Ready to make a difference in your community? Join the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) of Solano to gain the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to become an empowered advocate for your family and neighborhood. Be the voice your community needs.
You can apply to participate in the Solano Parent Leadership Training Institute by any of the following ways:
Online Application
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To submit your application online, complete the Google form here. Or,
Print Application
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Download the application form in English or Spanish. Once completed, please email it to Monica Soriano at msoriano@childnet.org.
For more information, please contact Monica Soriano at msoriano@childnet.org.
Class Schedule
The PLTI of Solano class schedule has been officially finalized and is now available for viewing.
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About PLTI
PLTI is a 20-week course in democracy and leadership for parents established by the National Parent Leadership Institute. This leadership program is intended to help increase the civic skills of diverse parents and caregivers to become leading advocates for their children and bring about community change.
The PLTI curriculum includes sessions that help parents learn about group dynamics and leadership, the change process and how they can be change agents, how to define a problem and work towards a solution, how a community works, the importance of networks and coalitions, public policy, how cities work, and understanding the law and budgets.
Who Should Apply
We invite applications from individuals who see themselves as proactive agents of change for the children in their lives and communities. This includes parents, prospective parents, and family members such as aunts, uncles, foster parents, co-parents, and older siblings caring for younger family members. We also welcome educators, youth workers, childcare providers, and babysitters.
Program Details
Beginning in September 21st and concluding in March, PLTI classes will be conveniently held on Wednesday evenings at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School. To further accommodate families, we provide free childcare services and dinner. Additionally, Spanish translation services are available to ensure language is not a barrier to participation.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility, participants without access to a tablet will be provided one for the duration of the program. The venue is fully accessible for individuals with physical disabilities, ensuring that everyone can comfortably attend.
View the PLTI Solano Class Schedule in English or Spanish.
Curriculum
The PLTI curriculum includes sessions that help participants learn the following:
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Group dynamics and leadership
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The change process and how they can be change agents
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How to define a problem and work towards a solution
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How a community works
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The importance of networks and coalitions
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Public policy
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How cities work
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Understanding the law and budgets
View the full schedule in English or Spanish.
Participant Reflections
I really enjoyed the steps. When the expectation is straightforward I tend to do better. I like that everyone is respectful to each other. I learned the outline...the path I need to start my project.
"[What I liked most about the session was] how respectful and supportive everyone was. The participants. Everyone spoke up and participated and I felt the passion and engagement. I liked the listening and speaking session."
PLTI helped me to improve speaking in public, to trust myself and to open my eyes that I can make a difference in my community. I can make a difference at least in one person's life.
PLTI Alumni from Merced, San Joaquin and Solano County visited the State Capitol to advocate for policies to positively impact families and were recognized by the State Assembly.
Alumni Impact
Graduates of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) are making significant strides in advocating for their children and communities. A 2020 survey revealed the following:
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86% of alumni were actively working on at least one issue, with Education and Schools being the most common focus, followed by Racial Equity. Additionally, 23% of alumni reported collaborating with other graduates on these efforts.
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71% of alumni have played a role in recruiting new parents into the PLTI program, helping to expand its impact.
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On average, each alum engaged in nine out of thirteen common civic actions over the past year, such as contacting elected officials, volunteering, and serving on committees.
The survey also highlighted that there were few significant differences in civic participation among alumni based on race, education, immigration status, and gender. Notably, where differences did exist, white parents were not the most civically active, suggesting that the "civic empowerment gap" commonly observed in the general U.S. population was largely absent among PLTI alumni.
Evaluations: Measuring Impact and Success
PLTI - Solano County Report 2022-2023
PLTI is committed to empowering parents with the skills and knowledge they need to drive positive change in their communities. To ensure that we are meeting this goal, we conduct thorough evaluations of our program's outcomes.
The 2022-2023 evaluation for Solano County's PLTI was conducted by the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at NYU. This comprehensive survey assessed various aspects of the program, from civic engagement and leadership development to cultural responsiveness and peer connections.
According to the evaluation, parents experienced significant growth in civic confidence, knowledge, and participation, deepening their understanding of local governance. The program effectively provided leadership development opportunities, empowering participants to take active roles in their communities. Additionally, PLTI fostered a strong sense of community, promoting lasting connections and a supportive network, and was praised for its cultural responsiveness and inclusive environment. The evaluation also highlighted an outstanding Net Promoter Score of 100, reflecting participants' high satisfaction and likelihood to recommend PLTI to others.
These results underscore the positive impact of PLTI on both personal and civic levels, reinforcing the importance of parent leadership in driving community change.
View the Full 2022-2023 PLTI Evaluation Report for Solano County
PLTI - National Report 2021-2022
The National Parent Leadership Institute (NPLI) is dedicated to enhancing the civic skills and impact of diverse parents to improve outcomes for children and communities. The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), which began in Connecticut in 1992, has now expanded to 15 states, driven by the strong results in civic skill development and leadership opportunities. The Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools at NYU was commissioned to conduct an independent evaluation of PLTI's impact across various sites nationwide.
The 2021–2022 evaluation of PLTI, conducted by NYU Metro Center, revealed significant positive outcomes in several areas. Parents reported substantial growth in civic knowledge and participation, with an increase in engagement across various civic actions. The survey also highlighted that PLTI fosters a strong sense of community, leadership development, peer connection, and cultural responsiveness. The program's inclusive environment was highly rated by participants, and the Net Promoter Score of 81 indicates a high likelihood of participants recommending PLTI to others, reflecting overall satisfaction and loyalty to the program.
Alumni Events
Explore our PLTI Alumni Events, where graduates foster a supportive community, share leadership experiences, and continue driving positive change. Stay inspired and connected—follow along on our social media for event recaps and updates on upcoming gatherings.
Children's Leadership Training Institute
The Children’s Leadership Training Institute (CLTI) is a parallel course to the Parent Leadership Training Institute, delivered to the children of PLTI participants.
CLTI uses literacy as a base and creates a full spectrum of activities that parallel the PLTI course and encompass the multiple intelligences. The template featured a book or books to ground the evening’s session. In addition to group discussion at class, children and youth in CLTI received a new book each week, connected to the learnings of that class, to add to their home libraries and to share with their families.
To develop a session, the CLTI teaching team used the PLTI theme, covering the same concepts of PLTI in an age appropriate approach. Each evening’s activities needed to be reviewed to ensure that they:
1. Appeal to children ages 3 to 12
2. Have literacy as a base
3. Have a full-spectrum of activities that encompass the multiple intelligences
Currently, the Children's Leadership Training Institute (CLTI), the parallel course for children to PLTI, is not being offered. We look forward to resuming the program in the future and will provide updates as they become available.