This case study was developed by the National Center for Family & Parent Leadership at the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, as part of the Alliance’s partnership with the center for the development of resources for the Alliance’s Family Voice Institute for early childhood policy advocates.
In Louisiana, advancing equitable early childhood policy requires more than technical solutions – it requires listening to families and sharing power with those most impacted by the systems meant to support young children. Geaux Far Louisiana is a statewide coalition of parents and early childhood health and education leaders working together to transform Louisiana’s early childhood systems so they better meet the needs of families. The coalition’s policy advocacy focuses on elevating parent leadership and advancing equitable, sustainable public investments that improve outcomes for children from birth through age five.
Building With Families From the Start
Geaux Far Louisiana was intentionally designed with families as partners from the very beginning. Rather than adding parent voices after policy priorities were set, the coalition was built on the belief that parents are experts in their children’s lives and communities and must help shape both the agenda and the strategy.
Early on, Geaux Far Louisiana recruited and supported parent leaders from across the state—representing diverse geographies, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and lived experiences with Louisiana’s early childhood systems. Parents were engaged not only to share their stories, but to help identify policy priorities, inform advocacy strategies, and speak directly with policymakers alongside early childhood health and education providers. This approach ensured that the coalition’s advocacy reflected the real needs and aspirations of Louisiana families.
Shifting Power to Support Authentic Partnership
As the coalition grew, it became clear that authentic partnership required meaningful shifts in power and practice. Geaux Far Louisiana moved from engaging parents primarily as advisors to recognizing them as leaders and co-creators in the policy advocacy process.
This shift required changes in how the coalition worked: slowing down timelines to build trust and relationships; redesigning decision-making processes to ensure parent leadership was central; and equitably compensating families for their time, expertise, and labor through contracts rather than hourly-based pay. The coalition also invested in internal capacity to support shared leadership, including training, facilitation, and infrastructure that enabled parents to participate fully and sustainably in advocacy efforts.
By prioritizing respect, transparency, and shared accountability, Geaux Far Louisiana created space for parents to lead in ways that felt meaningful and empowering—rather than extractive or symbolic.
Creating Sustained Roles for Parent Leaders
One of Geaux Far Louisiana’s greatest strengths has been its commitment to sustained, meaningful roles for families in advocacy. Parent engagement is not limited to one-time listening sessions or public testimony; instead, parents are supported to engage over time as leaders within the coalition.
Parents receive training, stipends, and ongoing opportunities to develop advocacy skills, understand policy processes, and build relationships with decisionmakers. They help shape policy agendas, communicate directly with legislators and administrators, and lead public narratives grounded in lived experience. This sustained investment has strengthened the coalition’s credibility and ensured that family voice remains central as policy conversations evolve.
Impact Driven by Family Leadership
Centering parent leadership has made Geaux Far Louisiana’s advocacy more powerful and effective. Policies grounded in lived experience resonate more deeply with policymakers and the public, helping to build broader and more durable support for early childhood investments.
Through this partnership with families and providers, Geaux Far has achieved significant policy wins, including maintaining funding for Early Childhood Education in the state budget, preserving the Early Childhood Care & Education Commission, supporting a potential increase in revenue for the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund, revamping tax credits for employer-supported child care, establishing a statewide Fatherhood Task Force, and requiring private insurance coverage for home visiting services. These efforts, alongside other legislative and administrative successes, reflect the coalition’s ability to build bipartisan support for policies that better meet the needs of young children and families.
Looking Ahead
Geaux Far Louisiana’s experience reinforces a critical lesson: equitable early childhood policy cannot be achieved without families at the center. When parents are supported with resources, respect, and real decision-making power, they become powerful drivers of policy and systems change.
As the coalition looks ahead, it remains committed to deepening parent leadership, expanding opportunities for shared decision-making, and continuing to align advocacy with the lived realities of Louisiana families. By building power with families – not just for them – Geaux Far Louisiana is helping to create early childhood systems that truly work for all children.
Learn more about the National Center for Family and Parent Leadership, powered by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. The authors express gratitude to Libbie Sonnier at Louisiana Policy Institute for Children for her contributions to this spotlight