Involve Families
Getting families and communities involved can greatly enhance the success of your prevention program implementation. To "make your case" to families and community members, try the following:
- Conduct a needs assessment and disseminate the results in a family-friendly format.
- If you are using a Committee for Children program, send home the parent take-home letters found in the curricula.
- Send home recommendations for adult and children's books that support your prevention program. If you are using a Committee for Children program, see the Teacher's Guides or the book review section of the Web site.
- Profile the program on your school Web site or newsletter.
- Invite parents in to observe classroom lessons.
- Talk about the program during parent/teacher conferences. This would be a great time to display program-related posters or bulletin boards made by the students.
- Provide examples of how the program skills or concepts can be applied in parenting or everyday situations.
- Create a family project homework assignment.
- Create an online parent forum on your school's Web server.
- Send the SECOND STEP Family Overview Video or the WOVEN WORD Family Video home with students.
- Host a "SECOND STEP/STEPS TO RESPECT Talent Night" with student skits, role-plays, songs, art, and writing that highlight the program.
- Conduct an overview session or familiy session.
Find out how to encourage families to attend the overview and familiy sessions.