The Missoula County Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is a civics, advocacy, and leadership training program that equips parents, caregivers, and other community members with the skills and knowledge to create positive change for youth and families. This 20-week program is free, and all participants are offered individualized childcare support, on-site meals during classes, and transportation assistance as needed.
The 4th Missoula County PLTI Cohort started in February 2025.
New cohorts begin annually in January and conclude around May/June.
Photo: The 2024 PLTI cohort on their last day of class.
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What is PLTI?
The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is a national program with more than 30 years of experience developing parent leaders and children’s advocates across the United States. The Missoula County PLTI is a local program of United Way of Missoula County's Zero to Five initiative.
PLTI brings together people from all walks of life to learn about civic engagement, advocacy and community action. This program is based on the idea that caregivers and youth are the best advocates for children and families in our communities–and that increasing access to civic skills will lead us all toward a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable democracy.
Photo: PLTI leaders working on a coalition-building activity
What You Will Gain
Leadership & Advocacy Skills: Learn how to analyze and understand the issues that matter most to you and your family. Once you grasp the complexity and root causes of the problems, use practical tools to develop concrete solutions and create meaningful change.
Civic Engagement: Gain a deeper understanding of how policy, government, media, and community organizations all work together to create and impact the circumstances we live in. These insights enable you to strategically navigate and influence the systems that affect your community and the people you care about.
Personal Growth: PLTI is about more than just skills; it's about empowerment. As you develop confidence and leadership abilities, you’ll feel more capable and motivated to act.
Building Relationships: Throughout the program, you will build lasting relationships with other parents, caregivers, and community members who share your passion for creating change. Our diverse cohorts offer the chance for community members to learn and teach one another from your lived expertise.
Community Impact Project: Throughout the program, you’ll have the chance to create a personal project to address an issue you care about, such as high school attendance policies, mental health resources for new parents, or a lack of play space for children in your apartment complex. You’ll develop this project throughout the PLTI program and leave with an action plan and strategy to move at a pace that fits your capacity.
“I think of PLTI as a kind of accelerator for positive change in our community. See problems around you, but don't know exactly what you can do about it? PTI can help with that. Looking to better understand systems and structures of power--and how you can influence them? Yep, that, too. Open to broadening your horizons and learning more about your neighbors? PLTI will definitely do that. Just hoping to connect with other people who give a damn about the world? 100% PLTI!” - Elisabeth, Missoula County PLTI 2024 Graduate.
Who is PLTI for?
Missoula PLTI is open to 20 Missoula County parents, caregivers, grandparents, foster parents, and other adults who wish to improve the lives of children and families in their communities. If you are passionate about issues impacting children and families but need support learning how to advocate effectively–or perhaps aren’t even sure where to begin–PLTI is for you. (While we strive to empower parents and caregivers, PLTI is not only for parents!)
Our program thrives on diversity, bringing together individuals from various backgrounds and experiences. Each year, we aim to create a cohort that reflects the diversity of Missoula County, ensuring that all caregivers' voices are heard and represented. Our Coordinator and Facilitation Team prioritize fostering a supportive space where participants can learn from one another and grow together.
“PLTI really opened my eyes to the power of community. It connected me with people I never would have thought shared similar experiences and concerns. It was inspiring to see how, by working together, we can achieve significant progress and drive real change. It reinforced for me that we truly need each other to move forward and make things happen.” - Marilyn, Missoula County PLTI 2024 Graduate.
The application is quick and easy, taking just 10-15 minutes to complete online.
Meet-and-greet: After you apply, a team member will reach out to schedule a 30-minute informal meet-and-greet. This is a chance for us to get to know you better, and for you to learn more about the program. More than anything, it's also an opportunity to decide if PLTI is the right fit for you. There are no wrong or bad questions; we want you to feel comfortable and informed as you choose.
Cohort selection: After the application deadline, 20 participants will be selected based on their ability to attend sessions and the diversity of experiences and interests they bring to the group
The PLTI experience includes:
A Full-Day Retreat The program kicks off with a full-day retreat. During this retreat, you'll have the opportunity to share your stories, build connections with other participants in your group, and lay the foundation for engaging in anti-racist advocacy work within our unique community.
20 Class Sessions Throughout the program, you will attend 20 class sessions,generally between January and May/June
Phase 1: A 10-week course focused on equity, understanding your personal history, and building trust across differences.
Phase 2: A 10-week course on politics, policy, and local government, where you'll learn how policies are created and how to use your voice as an advocate effectively.
You'll also have opportunities to meet with local and state policymakers, media professionals, and nonprofit and community leaders to understand how decisions are made and how you can influence change.
Community Impact Project Each PLTI leader develops a community project to explore or address an issue that affects you and the people you love. Participants’ interests are diverse, ranging from school attendance policies and state budget allocations to access to mental healthcare and improving community support for refugee families. You’ll collaborate closely with the dedicated PLTI team and a local mentor who help you identify an actionable issue and transform your passion into action.
Time Commitment and Schedule Missoula PLTI cohorts complete 20 class sessions, generally between January and May/June. Classes meet at the Missoula Public Library, with each session lasting 3.5 hours (including a shared 30-minute meal). We strive to offer PLTI at a time that is convenient for the greatest # of applicants and each year we offer the program at a different day/time to ensure it is available to as many folks as possible. The schedule considers holidays and school calendars and may be adjusted based on participant preferences. (Over the years, we’ve met on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m., Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 9 a.m.)
Supports Provided
We understand that participating in a program like PLTI is a big commitment, and we will do everything we can to help identify and address barriers to participation. Missoula County PLTI is offered free of charge to participating families and includes:
Child care! In partnership with Missoula Parks & Rec, we offer free, on-site childcare for school-aged youth and/ or child care stipends during class sessions for toddlers, infants, or kids for whom on-site child care isn't the right fit. This is a starting point, and we’ll do all we can to adjust these offerings to meet the needs of PLTI leaders.
Food! Each class session includes a free, on-site meal for participants and their kids.
Transportation assistance if needed.
We are committed to making the program as accessible as possible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. If you need anything else, please let us know—and share all details of your needs and preferences in the online application.
The Impacts of PLTI
Nationally, PLTI’s thousands of graduates have gone on to write letters to the editor, testify before local and state governments, start nonprofit organizations, and even run for office.
Some of the community projects and initiatives developed by local leaders in Missoula County PLTI include:
researching policies to address racism in our local elementary schools,
improving resources for parents to build social-emotional skills with their kids,
developing a social support network for single moms,
running for MCPS School Board,
creating a clearinghouse listing summer camp opportunities,
establishing peer-to-peer mentoring for parents of teens with mental health challenges,
writing a letter to the MCPS School Board about the adverse impacts of active shooter drills on children’s mental health,
developing an education and training program for and by refugees, and
facilitating cooking classes for elementary-aged youth through local schools.
PLTI doesn’t end with graduation. Each class of leaders joins the PLTI Alumni Group to continue their civic projects and to mentor the next class, creating an enhanced effect of community caring and developing a coalition of parent leaders.
Photo: Missoula County PLTI 2024 leaders at their graduation celebration
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people participate in The Missoula County PLTI?
What is the PLTI Community Project?
Ready to Apply?
Don’t miss the chance to be part of the next Missoula PLTI Cohort!
