Parental Involvement

Experts advise schools of the need for positive avenues for parental involvement, even to the point of sharing authority for school management and decision making (Garron & Guitierrez, 1995).

Gonzalez (1994) offers the following guidelines for increasing cooperation between schools and parents of gang-prone youth:

"Get to know the families of high-risk youth.
Recruit parent volunteers.
Include parents in developing cultural events.
Establish parenting classes.
Develop programs to increase community awareness of gangs and drugs.
Empower parents to participate.
Talk positively about students.
Establish a safe-schools advisory council. (Include parent members.)" (p. 86)