We all know parents who have made a difference: parents who have championed a cause to help strengthen families, parents who have had a positive impact on the lives of children; parents who have led the way to change. These special people are called Parent Leaders, and each day they make a difference in our community.

In order to recognize, honor and celebrate Parent Leaders, and encourage others to develop their potential to become Parent Leaders, February 2010 has been designated National Parent Leadership Month.

The Shared Leadership Committee of Mariposa Safe Families is accepting nominations for Outstanding Parent Leaders in Mariposa County. If you know of someone you would like to nominate as a parent leader please contact us at 966-2211, vanessa.msf@sti.net or download a nomination form from our Web site at www.mariposasafefamilies.org. The nomination deadline is Friday, Jan. 29.

To qualify as a parent leader you can be a parent, grandparent, kinship care provider, foster parent, or anyone else in a parenting role. A parent leader has personal experience in using resources/services to strengthen his or her family, is speaking and acting from his or her perspective as a parent and is not speaking and acting in a staff role for an organization or institution.

For the first time nominations for Outstanding Professional Parent Partner will also be taken. An outstanding professional partner is someone who actively promotes and supports parents in developing their leadership skills and models effective partnerships with parents in the planning, implementation or evaluation of agency or community services. Outstanding professionals could include staff members from any agency or organization, teachers, medical personnel or anyone working in a professional capacity.

The parent and professional that is selected as the Outstanding Parent Leader and Outstanding Professional Parent Partner for 2010 will be honored publicly and will be awarded a recognition gift.

Mariposa Safe Families Board of Directors