Building Family & School Connectedness
Parents can make a crucial difference in their children's choices and
character. Children who feel their parents' support, communicate effectively
with their parents and live with clear, no-use standards are much less
likely to become involved with violence, drug use and other problem behaviors.
However, parents are often unprepared for these responsibilities. They
need information and support.
One of the best ways to provide the knowledge and support parents need
is to get them involved in Too Good for Violence activities, and in school
activities in general. Research has shown parental involvement to be a
key factor in boosting resiliency and fostering healthy youth development.
Nurturing good family-school relationships forms a foundation for creating
the kind of home environment that reinforces what students learn in school.
Empowering Parents
Knowledgeable parents have enormous potential for strengthening their
children's positive attitudes and essential skills. The school can help
by:
- teaching parents how to nurture, affirm and support their children.
- helping parents to play a proactive role in preventing drug use,
violence and other problem behaviors.
- showing parents how to make and enforce clear rules, standards and
discipline regarding aggressive behavior and tobacco, alcohol and other
drug use.
Parents can also be a tremendous asset to your Too Good for Violence
prevention program. It is important to involve them from the beginning,
keep them informed and inspire them to participate in the program.
Involving Families in Too Good for Violence
- Send a letter to parents informing them about Too Good for Violence
and asking them to participate.
- Hold a meeting to introduce the Too Good for Violence program. Establish
the need for prevention programming. Present your school or district's
philosophy on prevention and enlist parents' help.
- Provide opportunities to review the Too Good for Violence curriculum
and invite parents to ask questions.
- Hold meetings whenever important policy decisions must be made. Prior
to any decision-making meeting, send informational letters home.
- Establish a Too Good for Violence parent resource center at the school.
- Set up a lending library of books, videos, audiotapes and CDs for
parents. Your library may include resources listed in the Looking for
More? Section at the end of each lesson, as well as resources and positive
parenting information.
- Offer a prevention-oriented parenting program that focuses on skills,
fosters family bonding and encourages a supportive parent network.
- Recruit and train parent training facilitators. Choose volunteers
who are committed, outgoing, culturally sensitive people who represent
the diverse groups in your community.
- Experience in group leadership or adult education is a real plus.
- Use the Home Workout in the Looking for More? section that follows
each lesson.
- Recruit parents to attend parenting workshops.
- Use homework assignments that promote parent-child interaction.
- Invite parents to attend Too Good for Violence classes.
- Ask parents who are also health and wellness experts to be guest
speakers.
- Offer weekend wellness fairs and involve both parents and teachers
in planning and implementing them.
- Enlist parents to volunteer their time and talents for special Too
Good for Violence events.
- Ask parents to help with everyday classroom activities.
- Survey parents to get their opinions about the Too Good for Violence
program and their suggestions for improving it.
Encouraging Parents' Attendance
- Make sure that invitations and announcements address parental concerns.
- Have students sing, dance or perform a short skit before the meeting.
- Provide child care and refreshments.
- Provide interpreters and transportation if needed.
- Choose an easily accessible, parent-friendly location or offer multiple
locations.
- Organize a team of parents to make personal phone calls inviting
other parents.
- Solicit endorsements from popular community personalities about the
importance of parental involvement in prevention.
- Publicize meeting dates, times and topics in a wide variety of venues.
- Have social, civic and business clubs announce upcoming meetings
and supply volunteers to help organize.
Resources for Involving Parents in Prevention
Educating for Health: A Guide to Implementing a Comprehensive Approach
to School Health Education. Eva Marx and Daphne Northrup, 1995. This
guide may be ordered from the Educational Development Center, Inc., 55
Chapel St., Newton, MA 02158-1060.
40 Developmental Assets. Search Institute has identified a research-based
framework of "developmental assets-factors that are critical for young
people's successful growth and development." Visit Search Institute www.search-institute.org
or call (800) 888-7828.
Creative Partnership for Prevention: A Drug and Violence Prevention
Resource for Schools. Visit www.cpprev.org to learn more.
At www.mendezfoundation.org, the Mendez Foundation offers on-line
prevention tips for families. |
