This guidebook aspires to build a community where learning for sustainable development takes place everywhere for everyone as an ongoing practice. It introduces you to "Reflect-Share-Act," a process to discover and define sustainable development in your own contexts together with others in your community. The guide compiles resources…

This article describes a unique program co-sponsored by a local public library, a university teacher preparation program, and a school district, created to support Latina/o parents as they produced authentic and culturally relevant literature representing multiple ethnic groups living in the Southwestern United States. A program like the one…

In general, youth whose parents are involved in their schooling experience better academic outcomes. Yet some parents, especially those with few resources in low-income urban communities, face barriers to becoming engaged in school and community. This report from the field describes the "Neighboring Project Parent Empowerment and Volunteer…

Making Connections was the Annie E. Casey Foundation's signature place-based, community-change initiative of the 2000s. It sought to build on previous work and launch an effort focused firmly on the framework of family strengthening. The Foundation started Making Connections in 22 places, focusing eventually on first 10, then seven sites. It…

This paper explores the following questions related to family literacy programs: How is family literacy linked with family literacy programs? What are the theoretical frameworks supporting the various models educators and researchers are using in their pedagogical approaches to family literacy programs? As these questions are explored several…

Describes the evolution of a primary, community-based drug prevention program and the challenges associated with becoming established within a particular community. Addresses the use of consortium to implement program goals and objectives; parental involvement and home visitation; developing and maintaining a positive relationship with the host…

This paper briefly defines parent involvement in education, outlines several factors that are fueling new state interest in programs to strengthen families, describes programmatic initiatives in several states, and examines some of the issues states have faced in their efforts to craft effective community-based programs that are responsive to…

This handbook describes the development and operation of family enhancement programs in Parent Centers in Wisconsin. Parent Centers, also called Family Centers, provide opportunities for parents to meet each other and to share concerns, ideas and fun. They can be "legitimate" places for parents to find friends for their children and…

Planning considerations for persons interested in beginning a school age day care program in a community setting such as a church, school, or community center are emphasized in this booklet. The following 15 questions are given brief answers: (1) What is school age day care? (2) Is there a need for school age day care? (3) Who will sponsor the…

The paper deals with a mental health program designed to treat the 2 1/2 to 5 year old Mexican American child with severe emotional or behavioral problems. Components of the program included a mutual agreement with Parent Child Centers (Headstart) in the community; staff who had expertise to evaluate, diagnose, design, and implement an individual…

Basic questions about bilingual education are answered in this guide: (1) What is bilingual education? (2) Why have bilingual education? (3) Who is bilingual education for? (4) When should bilingual education begin? (5) How does a bilingual program start? A program design is provided, listing the methods by which a community may initiate bilingual…

This article, based on the experiences of the Ainsworth (Oregon) Parent Teacher Association, offers a step-by-step guide for parents who wish to bring computers into their children's schools. Ways to build public and school support, do necessary planning and research, evaluate available equipment, and implement the program are suggested. (PP)

The Deaf Parent to Hearing Parent project was developed to utilize the resources of the Deaf community to support the knowledge, skills, and networks of hearing parents raising deaf children. First, six deaf parents of deaf children met for focus group sessions to brainstorm the knowledge, strategies, and skills they had gained from personal…

This Tennessee State policy is designed to provide positive learning outcomes for young children and promote parent involvement and the coordination of services for children and families. Introductory material underscores the importance of early learning, summarizes results of preschool intervention programs such as Head Start, and identifies…

This booklet explains Head Start's vision for parent involvement and discusses strategies that can be used to involve parents in the preparation of children for entry into Head Start, for participation in the program, and for the transition to school. The booklet notes that the challenge for programs is to work with each individual parent in ways…