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Ready Region Family Councils

Multi-generational family
Our Focus

The Ready Region Southeastern Family Council was created to help parents take an active role in their child’s early years leading up to kindergarten. The council’s focus is to help parents build a stronger early childhood system, learn about early childhood care, education systems, community resources, discuss current programs and determine what more is needed by families to help raise children who are healthy, thriving, and ready to learn.

We are looking for families who will help us close the gaps in education, help parents to find needed resources, and create a “think out of the box” attitude.

Our Southeastern Ready Region has established three separate family councils, serving the Eastern Shore, South Hampton Roads, and Western Tidewater regions. For more information, check out What Family Engagement is all about.

Family Council meeting specifics:

  • We strive to make meetings interactive, fun, and informational.
  • We meet monthly, in person, or via zoom. 
  • Parents receive a $50 gift card for their participation. 
  • A tablet will be provided for council members who don’t have access to a computer. 
  • Dinner will be provided at all in-person meetings. 
  • We ask for at least a year commitment on the council.

Once a parent has been identified as a good candidate for the council, the Family Engagement Coordinator will: 

  1. Contact the parent and schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss the criteria for joining the council. 
  2. The parent will sign the Ready Region Southeastern Family Council Agreement. 
  3. The parent will be provided with a calendar with future meeting dates and will be given resources periodically to use personally and to share within their respective community.

There is also an opportunity for the Family Council to select a Regional Parent Advocate to attend state meetings as a representative on the Virginia Promise Partnership Parent Advisory Board. 

If interested in joining one of our Family Councils, check out this flyer: Family Council "Join Us" Flyer

Contact Kristen Carter for additional help at CarterKJ@EVMS.EDU

Current Priorities
  • Promote Resources757.org so families and their advocates can find and use Hampton Roads resources.
  • Promote TheBasicsHR.org so families and community organizations share a broad understanding of the five basic principles that support healthy early childhood development.
  • Participate in community events in which members share information and resources, and promote future Family Council membership.
"Ready Region Family Council has opened my eyes to the needs of other families in our community and offered valuable resources and training I didn't know were available to my family as well."
Tananda posing for a professional head shot
Tananda Parson Hampton Roads Family Council Member
Eastern Shore Family Council
Emma Hannon, Chincoteague Christia Harmon, Onancock Cristy Marsh, Accomack Shannon Onley, Exmore Autumn Rice, Accomack Heather Tucker, Accomack
South Hampton Roads Family Council
Lillie Bauer, Virginia Beach Stacey Berry, Virginia Beach Kailah Young Brewer, Chesapeake Ladejea Garris, Portsmouth Zachary Harris, Virginia Beach Geneive Marshall, Norfolk Aneesha Matthews, Chesapeake Darius and Tananda Parson, Chesapeake Domonique Stewart, Chesapeake Sarah Sunderman, Norfolk Waukiesha Walker, Norfolk
Western Tidewater Family Council
Charlotte Brooks Dale, Suffolk Kimberly and Justin Fuller, Suffolk Tameka Lawrence, Suffolk Latoya Richardson, Suffolk Cliff White, Carrsville
Contact Kristen Carter for more information at CarterKJ@EVMS.EDU