Catrina Labrie
Many children attending school in inner-cities are
living in single parent homes where sole provider is
working one or more jobs to keep food on the table
and a roof over the heads of the family. This
means parents might not be available to help the
child with school work because the parent may be
at work during the time the child works on
homework.
This does not mean that the parents don’t care
about the education of their children. Education
programs should care more about the home-lives
of the children they serve.
The parents of more than 28 million school-age
children work outside the home.
There are 15 million “latchkey children” going to
empty houses on any given afternoon.
U.S. Department of Labor; Census Bureau, Urban Institute, 2000
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Afterschool programs have the power to reduce crime, increase
safety, bring neighbors together, and foster community pride and
ownership.
Afterschool program help young people succeed by providing academic
support and the chance to form meaningful relationships with adults in
their community.
Afterschool programs have proven to lower juvenile crime rates and
generally improve neighborhoods.
www.Cyfar.caspsu.edu/PDFs/Parent%20Involvement%20Plan.pdf
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Initial Communication
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Communication is the most important part of getting
parents involved in an afterschool program.
It’s important to have communication, but it is
essential to have the Initial Contact with parents.
Frequent communication between provider and
parents will allow the parent feel involved, and
encourages the to participate throughout the
process.
When you receive a new child make sure you come in
contact with the parents.
This process makes it easier to keep the parent
involved.
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Create informal spaces for parents to attend
and participate in.
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Have a potluck dinner.
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Have a meet and greet. (once a month)
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Allow parents to come visit any time.
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Throw a welcome party for youth and parents.
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Coordinate an end of the year ceremony for
children, their families, and program partners.
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Create continual contact with
parents/caregivers.
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Write monthly newsletters
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Send Weekly Emails
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Contact parents about child’s progress
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Send home weekly letters/ upcoming events
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Make announcements
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Translate (Flyers, etc.)
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Create family project days/community
service activities.
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Martin Luther King Day
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Work in your community day
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Family Fun Night
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Holiday Event
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Relational Events for Parents to Meet and Mingle
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Be Creative….Create a Parent Resource
board/corner…
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Make sure you have resources corner available for
parents.
• Child Care options
• Ask for Donations
• Family resources
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Study after study has documented that when families
are involved in school, their children do better. Children
receive higher grades, attend more frequently, get
better test scores, show improved behavior, and
graduate at a higher rate. After-school programs are
an extension of the school day, and parental involvement
in afterschool can produce similar benefits.
After-school programs are a gateway to the day school
for many parents who do not and would not otherwise
feel connected to their children's school. Parents who
feel connected to their after-school program are more
likely to have contact with teachers and day school
staff.
www.tascorp.org/content/document/detail
Strategies
Challenges
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Work conflicts
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Child care issues
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Survey parents to
determine schedule
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Provide childcare
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Provide transportation
Language or cultural
barriers
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Arrange to have a translator
Perceived lack of interest
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Transportation/distance
Provide childcare
www.Cyfar.caspsu.edu/PDFs/Parent%20Involvement%20Plan.pdf