UAB Early Head Start Program participants are invited to join a number of ongoing programs during each month. These provide opportunities to socialize with other parents and their children, to learn parenting skills and to participate in parent led organizational meetings. They include:

Socialization Meetings
Parenting Meetings
PIPA Meetings
Policy Council

Contact your Family Partner or consult our monthly calendar for dates and times for your meetings. (See the attached file for our Hazardous Weather Policy at the bottom of this page).

Socializations

In a home-based program, parent(s) and children join together several times during the month to meet other families in the program. Each socialization lasts for about two hours. Group socializations allow children and parents to interact with others, using age appropriate activities; to participate in group discussions on such topics as safety, nutrition and parenting; and to develop new skills through arts and crafts. The four monthly socializations in Jefferson County take place in the UAB Early Head Start Program playroom. You are assigned to a socialization based on your family partners. An additional socialization is held at the Prescott Community Center in Cook Springs to accommodate our St. Clair County families. All socializations are generally held at 11:00 a.m. In addition, we have a yearly Meal of Thanks in November, a Winter Carnival in December and a Transition Socialization in July.

Jefferson County Socialization meetings

When? Most Thursdays at 11:00 a.m.
(check with your Family Partner
or your monthly calendar)
Where? UAB Early Head Start Program playroom
Community Health Building 19
Room 127
933 19th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35294 map

Parenting Meetings

Parenting is one of the world's most important jobs!
It's one of the hardest jobs too.
In the UAB Early Head Start Program we provide opportunities every month for families to meet with other parents and with our Parenting Education Coordinator, Shanté Hamm, to talk about ways to help children grow up to be responsible, confident, helpful and kind. During parenting meetings we discuss skills for dealing with temper tantrums, hitting, potty training, helping kids to sleep and eat and lots more.

Jefferson County Parenting meetings:

When? Most Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
(check with your Family Partner or your monthly calendar)
Where? UAB Early Head Start Program playroom
Community Health Building 19
Room 127
933 19th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35294 map

Walker County Parenting meetings:

When? Third Wednesday of most months at 9:00 a.m.
Where? Purrish Elementary
95 Engle Street
Purrish, AL 35580

PIPA

PIPA stands for Parents In Partnership Association. Every parent (mother and father) in the UAB Early Head Start Program is an active member. PIPA meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the UAB Early Head Start Playroom. PIPA is designed to get the parents prepared to be advocates for their children in the school system. In addition, PIPA decides on activities for families during the school year. PIPA is the parents’ voice in the program.

Jefferson County PIPA meetings:

When? The second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
Where? UAB Early Head Start Program playroom
Community Health Building 19
Room 127
933 19th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35294 map

St. Clair County PIPA meetings:

When? The second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
Where? UAB Early Head Start Program playroom
Community Health Building 19
Room 127
933 19th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35294 map

Walker County PIPA meetings:

When? Third Wednesday of most months at 9:00 a.m.
Where? The Arc of Walker County
910 Oak Hill Dr.
Jasper, AL 35501

Policy Council

The Policy Council is a leadership group that works in partnership with key management staff of the UAB Early Head Start Program. This group is made up of parents of children enrolled in the program and community representatives. More than half of the Council's members must be parents of currently enrolled children. Parents are elected each year and serve one-year terms. Parents may serve a maximum of five one-year terms.