Description

Better Together Onondaga is a parent-designed initiative that creates a dedicated space for families to connect and collaborate.

Through shared learning sessions, parent-led discussions, and focus groups, families helped shape every aspect—including the name and design. The initiative grew from the Early Childhood Alliance’s (ECA) goal of creating an agile, family-centered space where parents could share experiences, build community, and drive change. Qualitative input from parent’s feedback and lived experience guided the process. By centering family voice, Better Together Onondaga fosters belonging and meaningful impact within the early childhood system.

Need / Problem Statement

Although Onondaga County has many family resources, parents identified several barriers to accessing and navigating them.

Supports that exist were fragmented, difficult to locate, and not always designed with parent perspectives in mind. Caregivers reported feelings of isolation and limited opportunities to connect with other families. The ECA sought to create a parent-led space to:

• Strengthen peer connections
• Improve access to reliable information and resource navigation
• Provide a sense of inclusion, visibility, and shared ownership for families

Process

The ECA led the design process in collaboration with local parents, family advisory groups, and creative partner, Black Cub Productions, to co-design content, naming/branding, visuals, and engagement strategies.

They collaborated with a Syracuse University intern to develop an interactive resource map for families, and the initiative launched after just six months. Additional activities included:

• Hosted an online appreciation event to learn parents’ needs and communication preferences
• Collected survey data revealing a desire for peer connection and support navigating resources
• Created a private Facebook group for parents to test and refine engagement strategies while participants share resources and support in the community

Partnership

Parents and caregivers guided the innovation at every stage.

Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and Family Advisory Council (FAC) members engaged in branding focus groups. The initiative prioritized equitable compensation and parents were paid at a consultant rate for their participation and insights given the expertise they were providing through their lived experiences. Parents were recruited through community partners and later joined the PAC and helped connect the creative team and community members. They also collaborated with Black Cub Productions to gain professional design expertise while maintaining parent ownership of decision-making. Better Together Onondaga continues to evolve as a living example of how centering parent voice can transform community engagement and strengthen early childhood systems. 

Implementation

Implementation occurred through an iterative, parent-driven process that included the creation of an internal communications team and appointment of a family champion.

After a kickoff meeting with ECA, Black Cub, and parent representatives, an online appreciation event to gather initial insights was launched. Next was the development and beta testing of the private Facebook group to strengthen digital engagement. The focus groups were split in two: one consisted of highly engaged parents to refine design and community messaging. Additional examples of integration and ownership include: 

• Families who were engaged as co-designers, not participants
• Regular check-ins and focus groups that maintained ongoing feedback loops
• The PAC and FAC guiding communication strategies and event planning

Changes & Outcomes

Better Together Onondaga has become a trusted, inclusive space where families feel a sense of connection.

Family engagement outcomes include the PAC expanding by five new members, strengthening parent leadership and parents reporting increased confidence and belonging in advocacy spaces. The private Facebook group also provides daily peer support and up-to-date local information. System and cultural outcomes include:

• Improved data collection methods, including parent surveys and storytelling
• Enhanced understanding of systemic barriers through parent narratives
• Parents co-design of solutions (e.g., partnerships with local agencies to support survivors of domestic violence, provision of pregnancy tests and hygiene items for women living on the streets)
• The new interactive map helps families and providers navigate community resources more effectively
• Stronger collaboration between families, community agencies, and ECA leadership
• Establishment of best practices for co-designing family engagement initiatives

Measurement for Success

• Tracking growth of PAC membership and community engagement through digital and in-person activities
• Monitoring activity levels and interactions in the private Facebook group as indicators of connection
• Collecting qualitative feedback from families on resource accessibility, support, and belonging
• Using parent feedback loops to inform ongoing content and engagement strategies
• Reviewing data from the interactive resource map to assess usage and navigation trends

Payment & Funding

• Funding type: Supported by Pediatrics Supporting Parents (PSP) funds for consultant fees and parent stipends
• Anticipated gains: 
  

  • Meaningful parent participation and reduced barriers to engagement ensured through financial compensation

  • Strengthened family leadership capacity through skill-building, mentorship, and professional pathways

  • Sustainable parent-led model that informs community-level strategies and data collection practices

Resources

• ECA Family Voice Theory of Change
• ECA and PEACE Thriving Moms Group Outline
• Thriving Survey Analysis Report (Graduation February 2026)

To learn more about this innovation please email Brandi Mee, Director of Family Wellbeing at the ECA: [email protected].