The Missoula County Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is a free, 20-week, anti-racist civics, advocacy, and leadership course that empowers parents and caregivers to become leading advocates for children. PLTI includes childcare support, meals, and transportation assistance for participants, as needed.
Each year, Missoula PLTI is open to 20 Missoula County parents, grandparents, foster parents and other adults who wish to improve the lives of children and families in their communities. Annual cohorts begin in January, with applications opening in the summertime. The 20-week intensive training program meets (mostly) weekly, with the schedule primarily determined by participants.
Our next session will begin in January 2025! Sign up here to be notified when applications open for our next cohort
PLTI is a free, 20-week, anti-racist civics and leadership course that empowers parents and caregivers to become leading advocates for children. This intensive program is great for folks who want to learn how to improve our community but don't yet have the skills or knowledge to be confident and effective.
PLTI is a national program with 30 years of experience across the nation and a local program of United Way of Missoula County's Zero to Five initiative.
PLTI is open to 20 Missoula County parents, grandparents, foster parents, and other adults who wish to improve the lives of children and families in their community.
PLTI thrives with diversity and our participants’ interests vary widely, from attendance policies at school and allotments in the state budget to access to mental healthcare and improving community support for refugee families.
If you are on the fence or have questions, we encourage you to apply! We’ll touch base to schedule a 30-minute meet-and-greet, during which you can learn more about the program and make sure it’s right for you.
The PLTI curriculum includes:
We know that PLTI is a huge commitment and we 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:
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. Graduates of Missoula’s PLTI program have pursued a wide variety of community projects, including:
And so much more!
During the course, each participant will develop and undertake a community impact project to address a community problem that they are passionate about! The community impact project is where participants apply the skills they’re learning in class.
Our PLTI Site Coordinator works one-on-one with each participant to help you identify a project, make a plan, and get connected to the people who can help you meet your goals. (It’s okay if nothing is coming to mind; we’ll figure it out!)
Your project could lead you to research school policies, improve resources for students struggling with mental health, shine a light on gaps in the childcare system, or improve safety in your neighborhood. We help you every step of the way and pair you with a community mentor who will help you think about and pursue whatever your project may be.
Applicants can expect to spend at least one hour doing classwork between our biweekly sessions, although some folks will spend significantly more time on PLTI work outside of class.
Sign up here to be notified when applications open for our next cohort!
What Alumni Say About PLTI
“What I have learned through PLTI is that every parent has the power to make positive change happen, no matter how big or small.”
“PLTI means empowerment, knowledge, confidence and translating passion into action. PLTI makes you rise above yourself to understand issues around us and work toward solutions.”
“It’s not about left or right... It’s about making the community better for our kids.”
“I wanted to participate in the community my children will grow up in and participate in something they would be proud of and bring others joy. As a single mother, I wanted to create a project that brings fun and friendship to a rather isolated community in Missoula.”
“I've been politically motivated and driven by activism since I was a young kid - writing letters to my governor and corporations in elementary school, staging anti-war sit-ins in high school, organizing with my professional union, etc. But after our son was born, I found myself just ranting on Facebook instead of taking action. PLTI was an opportunity to gain the tools and knowledge to be an effective leader in our community, and not just a voice on social media.”
2023 Missoula County PLTI Team
Our Civic Design Team members
Interested in learning more? Email us.
Thanks to our sponsors for helping make PLTI possible!
Removing obstacles and paving the way for hard working families to get ahead financially.