Resources

Annie E. Casey Strengthening Families / Strengthening Schools Toolkit

www.aecf.org/initiatives/mc/sf/index.htm

The toolkit includes information and resources to help schools work in partnership with families and communities - to strengthen families, strengthen schools, and help children do better. School staff and people who work for community organizations worked with the Foundation to put this tool kit together. You will find examples of schools that work in partnership with families, practical ideas for work in schools, and ideas for families about working with schools.

Coalition for Community Schools

www.communityschools.org/

The Coalition for Community Schools is an alliance of national, state and local organizations in education K-16, youth development, community planning and development, family support, health and human services, government and philanthropy as well as national, state and local community school networks. The Coalition advocates for community schools as the vehicle for strengthening schools, families and communities so that together they can improve student learning.

Communities in Schools (CIS)

www.cisnet.org

For over 25 years, CIS has championed the connection of needed community resources with schools. CIS partners with families, schools and community leaders to create a support system for students.   CIS is a community-builder delivering resources for kids by working in partnership with public schools--principals, superintendents, teachers and administrators, local business and community organizations.

Families and Schools Together (FAST)
www.wcer.wisc.edu/fast/

FAST is a focused partnership, often between a family service agency and a multifamily group to engage families and schools to build protective factors for children (4 to 12 years old) and empower parents to be the primary prevention agents for their own children. The FAST program has been replicated in over 600 sites, in 38 states, 5 countries and three Indian reservations. FAST has received recognition as a model program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Education for At-Risk Students.

Harvard Family Research Project

http://gseweb.harvard.edu/hfrp/

Founded at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP) strives to increase the effectiveness of public and private organizations and communities as they promote child development, student achievement, healthy family functioning, and community development. In its relationships with national, state, and local partners, HFRP fosters a sustainable learning process-one that relies on the collection, analysis, synthesis, and application of information to guide problem-solving and decision-making.

Institute for Educational Leadership

www.iel.org/programs.html

The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) - a non-profit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington , DC - envisions a society that uses its resources effectively to achieve better futures for all children and youth. For almost forty years, IEL's mission continues to be to build the capacity of individuals and organizations in education and related fields to work together - across policies, programs and sectors .

Institute for Responsive Education

www.responsiveeducation.org/home.html

The Institute for Responsive Education (IRE) is a research, policy, and advocacy organization that encourages and supports school, family, and community partnership to enable high quality educational opportunities for all children. The website features publications, newsletters and descriptions of the Institute's various projects.

Johns Hopkins University Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships

www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/center.htm

The mission of this Center is to conduct and disseminate research, development, and policy analyses that produce new and useful knowledge and practices that help families, educators, and members of communities work together to improve schools, strengthen families, and enhance student learning and development. Current projects include the development of and research on the Center's National Network of Partnership Schools. This Network guides school, district, and state leaders, and teams of educators, parents, and others to improve school, family, and community partnerships.

 

National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools

www.sedl.org/connections/  

Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools bridges research and practice to remove barriers to student achievement. The Center links people with research-based information and resources that they can use to effectively connect schools, families, and communities. The Center reviews emerging findings and research to develop an online database, annual conferences and annual reports to help advance procedural knowledge and provides training and networking to link research findings to practice.

 

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (NCPIE)

www.ncpie.org

The Coalition's mission is to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and to foster relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of all our nation's young people. The Coalition web site features a wide array of information for parents, educators and administrators.

 

National Community Education Association

www.ncea.com

NCEA's mission is to provide leadership to those who build learning communities in response to individual and community needs. It does this by providing its members with national and regional training conferences and workshops; specialized periodicals, publications, and products; opportunities for peer support and networking; and information and referral services. In addition it acts as an advocate for community education by working with related organizations and promoting at the national, state, and local levels: parent and community involvement in public education; the formation of community partnerships to address community needs; and the expansion of lifelong learning opportunities for all community residents.

 

Search Institute

www.search-institute.org

Search Institute is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth, and communities.   At the heart of the institute's work is the framework of 40 Developmental Assets, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.