This bulletin focuses on family participation in mental health policymaking and highlights state efforts to increase family involvement. Articles include: (1) "Promoting Family Member Involvement in Children's Mental Health Policy Making Bodies," which describes how different states are promoting family member involvement in various statutory and…

This report describes a method for increasing parental involvement in physical education and art in an elementary school in Illinois. The parents of second- and third-grade students in a well-developed, middle class community in Illinois participated in the study. The lack of parental involvement had been documented through data revealing the low…

This newsletter issue highlights a variety of successful youth, family, and community program models that have been developed to curb substance abuse, lessen risk factors, and strengthen protective and supportive resources for individuals and their communities. The newsletter includes the following articles: (1) "A Systems Approach to the…

Parent involvement efforts distinguish the Holyoke Public Schools of Holyoke, Massachusetts. No other school system in the region offers as many varied opportunities for parents to have an impact on their children's school experience. The Parent Involvement Policy was developed with the help of a 15-member task force of parents in the summer of…

Intended to help school districts or schools trying to encourage the involvement of parents, this handbook presents ideas and suggestions gathered from local projects as well as a self-assessment manual and a guide describing helpful available materials. Part 1 contains recommendations concerning how to initiate and organize parental involvement…

This book presents a collection of physical activities for parents and children. Although all of the activities provide some exercise and physical conditioning, the book emphasizes having fun. The book encourages the physical closeness of tickling, snuggling, kissing and hugging (TSKH) as an important part of each activity. Each activity…

Noting that the evidence of families influence on their childrens school achievement is consistent, positive, and convincing, this report examines research on parent and community involvement and its impact on student achievement. Following an introduction, the first section of the report describes the methods used for selecting the studies;…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act entitles each family with an eligible infant or toddler to service coordination at no cost to them. This publication sets forth guidelines and describes the vision for how service coordination will be provided to families in Colorado. The publication, in English and Spanish versions, notes that…

The Families Matter series of papers from the Harvard Family Research Project advances the concept of family-centered child care, advocating an approach to early childhood education that addresses the development of the child and family together. Grounded in family support principles, which build on family strengths and work from a community's…

The Families Matter series of papers from the Harvard Family Research Project advances the concept of family-centered child care, advocating an approach to early childhood education that addresses the development of the child and family together. Grounded in family support principles, which build on family strengths and work from a community's…

Because early literacy development occurs through social processes, parents need to be involved in the beginning stages of their children's reading. This thesis details the need for early literacy experiences and provides evidence that reading success begins at home. The thesis distinguishes illiteracy and aliteracy, defines literacy, discusses…

This book shares the author's discoveries in a first-grade classroom about Family Message Journals--notebooks in which children write a message to their families each day about something they did, learned, or thought about in school, and then a family member writes a message in reply. The book is intended to spur other teachers to reflect on how…

An experimental program involving kindergarten children and parents in an evening Spanish course was successful and enthusiastically received. Problems encountered included differing learning styles, abilities, and interests between parents and children. In some cases, other family members also became involved. (MSE)

The author presents several factors which pertain to state involvement in family life. Among these factors are social diversity, social agency usurpation of family roles, the need for parent and family involvement in child rearing, conducting needs assessment, conducting hearings prior to policy decisions, and making social services relevant. (DB)

Reviews literature on family influence on children's acquisition of literacy. Discusses the ambivalence regarding family literacy theories and the lack of family literacy theoretical frameworks. Identifies types of family involvement and effective literacy strategies for families. Finds that most studies suggest that family literacy contributes to…