Be it the Dad or Mom, it just doesn’t matter because the parent has a voice the government officials want to hear but all too often the parent has no idea on how to express their ideas, concerns and wants. For the intents of this article I will focus on the father figure because that’s who I am, what this site and Blog are all about and more than likely you, our esteemed reader.

For the last six months I have been taking a Family Leadership class ands this coming Thursday, June 24, 2010 is our local graduation.  The curriculum, Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) from the State of Connecticut is an evidenced based curriculum with proven positive outcomes for children, families, and the community. The Colorado Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) (their web site is kind of weak I know because the links in the upper navigation go nowhere), and is of the same shared philosophy and is working with PLTI.

FLTI  is a first-of-its-kind family civics program where graduates spend more than 120 hours to develop skills needed to become effective leaders in their communities. Once recruited and accepted in to the program, participants attend a 20-week curriculum that integrates personal and child development, leadership training, civic literacy and civic participation skills. The curriculum includes four components:

  1. An initial retreat
  2. Two 10-week sessions that focus on knowledge about the change process
  3. Skill building, and tools of civic engagement
  4. A community project
Like I said Thursday is graduation but that is not the highlight believe it or not, the highlight was being accepted into this class with the privilege of attending class for 20 weeks with some very powerful new family leaders.
Each week for the first three weeks I was not looking forward to attending but as the class jelled and came together and we got to know each other past the heavy one day retreat to kick it off, we came together and worked together in class and individually on our projects.  After the jelling occurred,  I looked forward to each Thursday night with baited anticipation on what the next class would hold for us.  Now that class is over my schedule has a huge void in it on Thursday nights that will be tough to fill.
MyFLTI  Community Project was my All Pro Dad Breakfast Meeting which is currently on its summer hiatus, I was in the process of talking with the school about a possible implementation before FLTI even started.  There were other other projects in the class from:
  • Brain food for kids and getting the kids to make smart choices in their diet.
  • A new mother who is breast feeding but has health issuers and has to go back into the hospital, then what -in short an educational training web site for Dr’s, Hospitals, and parents on what breast feeding options are for mom ( still in development).
  • Battleground Christian Community Outreach Center (currently in operation) which is a is a non-profit, community based, multi-program social service agency.  Battleground believes that positive personal growth reflects positive community change, creating a safer and healthier environment. They seek to provide life changing services to a diverse population, which will empower individuals to live a more prosperous life. Battleground Christian Community Outreach Center will work to empower people of all ages, races, and cultural backgrounds as we value diversity in the community.
  • A “So Now You’re Special: Educating Parents on the Special Education Process” which is self explanatory among other equally inspiring programs.
Please go to Colorado Family Leadership Training Institute to learn more then Google your state and Family Leadership Training, as there are new courses happening everywhere it seems.