Together, we can work to change the larger consciousness about children and families in this country. As anthropologist Margaret Mead once put it, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Here are ten things you can do to make things better for all families:

Think about ways you can support the health of families and children around you. Some parents routinely send extra money when their child's class takes a field trip, to make sure that all children can go. Others send contributions to homeless shelters, women's crisis support groups, church or synagogue programs for families. Families with more limited financial resources can donate time or used clothing.

Marion Wright Edelman reminds us to start with simple steps. She asks us to begin simply, by saying "hi!" to the kids in your neighborhood. You could also take time to talk to them, to show an interest in their lives, but even a simple greeting starts to build the feelings of caring and concern necessary to strong communities.

Within your resources, you can support the families around you. Parents have organized dinner networks for families with new babies or at other times of need. Friends have provided transportation or child care. And some families have developed child care exchanges or co-ops.

If your child is in preschool, spend time helping out in the classroom. Even an occasional morning can help you feel more connected to other children, parents, and the larger school community.

Whenever the opportunity comes up, you can advocate for family friendly policies in your workplace. Organize a brown bag lunch parent discussion group. In your union or with your boss, you can talk about the importance of flexible work schedules, family leave or absence policies and benefit packages which make provisions for child care and parent education.

Investigate the parent education opportunities in your community. Are there any? Are they useful? Culturally relevant? Well-used? Do they serve the needs of your community? If your community has the need for more parent education, you can research community groups (YWCA, Planned Parenthood, local colleges or adult education schools, hospitals or child care centers) that might be willing to sponsor additional classes.

In your local community, you can talk to friends or neighbors, go to school board meetings, city council meetings, or other groups dealing with broader community issues. Whenever opportunities arise, speak up about the importance of providing support for all families. You don't have to use fancy words. It is most meaningful when you use your own voice and speak from your experience.

If you're more comfortable with the written word, you can write letters or send e-mail. Through writing to the local newspaper or your local or national legislators, you can keep people aware of the needs of families, respond to proposed legislation, and advocate for specific political action.

There may be local parent groups you could join, or you may get a group of parents together and start one. Even an organization like the PTA might be open to addressing the larger needs of families. You could volunteer to serve on the board of a family service organization or join a national group like the Children's Defense Fund, Family Resource Coalition or Kid's Campaign.

Parents have taken in foster kids, "adopted" a teenage mom and her child, become "big brothers" or "big sisters," or done respite care for families in need.

Find out candidates' positions on family issues. Be an informed, active voter and talk to other voters.

For more on advocacy for families, click here.

Excerpted from Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years by Laura Davis and Janis Keyser.
Copyright © 1997 by Laura Davis and Janis Keyser. Excerpted by permission of Broadway Books, a division of the Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.