Homeless parents of young children face many stressors that erode their self-esteem. This article articulates these stressors and how they negatively impact homeless parents and their children. Strategies for helping parents empower themselves and their children are explained.

Homeless parents of young children confront several barriers to developing effective parenting skills and dispositions. Perhaps the major barrier is that of the negative stereotype that many people use to label them. They also often have not had positive parent role models and in many cases have had to deal with the issues of violence. Parent…

Parent involvement has been documented as the most effective method of improving student performance in school. This book explores ideas, strategies, and resources that parents and teachers can use in teaming together to facilitate productive student behavior and to deal positively with discipline issues. Parental role in discipline is discussed…

A questionnaire was used to survey teachers in an attempt to determine whether there were characteristics particular to kindergarten teachers who strongly supported parent involvement in kindergarten programs. Findings suggest that there are such characteristics. (Author/BB)

This teacher's handbook suggests that, as social, economic and political changes in the United States have altered family structure and parenting skills have become more complex and demanding, parent support programs and services must be made available. It is suggested that parenting should become a more cooperative process involving everyone in…

Recent studies suggest that the involvement of parents and teachers with young children provides natural opportunities for modeling and nurturing positive cultural attitudes. Strategies that support children's multicultural learning within a context of family involvement are of three types. The first of these is parent education and support.…

The way in which parents develop perceptions and relationships for functioning in a family leadership role is discussed. Topics addressed include: (1) beginning with selfhood; (2) relating to others; (3) relating to parenting; and (4) relating to vocation. The most extensive discussion is that of relating to others, which explores four…

A critical element in South Carolina's Early Childhood Development and Academic Assistance Act is the parenting and family literacy component that targets families of children aged birth to 5 years, with a special emphasis on serving parents and families of children at risk for school failure. This manual offers guidelines for developing parenting…

Reviews findings of studies that address the dynamics among parental efficacy, parental involvement, and children's functioning; suggests their possible applications to early childhood education; and explores viable options for broadening research and study. (BB)

This paper, a session proposal for a rural and small schools conference, reports on a project undertaken by 166 parents and staff of South Carolina's Target 2000 Parent Education Program to assess the effectiveness of the program's design and implementation process. The main research question studied concerned what were found to be the most…

Defines cross-cultural parent performance roles and discusses common goals. Outlines criteria among diverse parenting styles and lists areas of parental functioning for self-image determination status. Provides guidelines for assessing parent cultural competence and names three major tasks for educators in regard to educating parents for…

Proposes a new model of family involvement in early childhood education that empowers families as lifelong learners. Strategies that empower families include advocating for family-centered communities; developing relevant parent education; promoting developmentally appropriate programs; providing success-oriented learning experiences and…

This report provides the 1994 follow-up evaluation of the Early Childhood Parent/Education Family Literacy Project in South Carolina, first evaluated in 1993. The objective of the evaluation was a comprehensive review and analysis of program components and elements as designed and implemented by 12 pilot projects. Highlights from the 1993…

This report details the evaluation of Target 2000, a South Carolina parent education program that involves parent and literacy training as well as social services for children and parents, and that is intended to increase parents' effectiveness as the primary teachers of their preschool children. The evaluation process described was shaped by the…

Ways to approach the evaluation of South Carolina's Parent Education Program are examined. The program's purpose is to improve children's school success by strengthening the family, particularly during the children's first 5 years. Program goals are to: (1) demonstrate effective methods of parent training and support that will enable parents to…