Abstract
School-based mutual support groups (MSGs) are proposed to enhance the school involvement of parents from lower socioeconomic and ethnic minority backgrounds. We present a school-based MSG format, findings from a survey regarding parent interest, and discussion of a pilot demonstration implemented in three urban elementary schools.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adelman, H. S., and Taylor, L. (1991). Early school adjustment problems: Some perspectives and a project report.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 61: 468–474.
Ascher, C. (1988). Improving the school-home connection for poor and minority urban students.The Urban Review 20: 109–123.
Ascher, C., and Flaxman, E. (1985). Parent participation and the achievement of disadvantaged students.Equity and Choice 16: 73–78.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychological Review 84: 191–215.
Bauman, L. J., Stein, R. E. K., and Ireys, H. T. (1992). Reinventing fidelity: The transfer of social technology among settings.American Journal of Community Psychology 19: 619–639.
California Self-Help Center. (1985).Training for Support Group Starters. Los Angeles: University of California.
Cohen, S., and Hoberman, H. M. (1983). Positive events and social supports as buffers of life change stressors.Journal of Applied Social Psychology 13: 99–125.
Comer, J. P. (1988). Educating poor minority children.Scientific American 259: 42–48.
Cummins, J. (1986). Empowering minority students: A framework for intervention.Harvard Educational Review 56: 18–36.
Davies, D. (1987). Parent involvement in the public schools: Opportunities for administrators.Education and Urban Society 19: 147–163.
Davies, D. (1988, Spring). Low-income parents and the schools: A research report and a plan for action.Equity and Choice, pp. 51–57.
Davies, D. (1991). Schools reaching out: Family, school, and community partnerships for student success.Phi Delta Kappan 72: 376–382.
Delgado-Gaitan, C. (1991). Involving parents in the schools: A process of empowerment.American Journal of Education 100: 20–46.
Dye, J. S. (1989). Parental involvement in curriculum matters: Parents, teachers, and children working together.Educational Research 31: 20–35.
Epstein, J. L. (1987). Parent involvement: What research says to administrators.Education and Urban Society 19: 119–136.
Epstein, J. L. (1990). School and family connections: Theory, research, and implications for integrating sociologies of education and family.Marriage and Family Review 15: 99–126.
Goldenberg, C. (1987). Low-income Hispanic parents' contributions to their first-grade children's word-recognition skills.Anthropology and Education Quarterly 18: 149–179.
Goldenberg, C. (1989). Parents' effects on academic grouping for reading: Three case studies.American Educational Research Journal 26: 329–352.
Hawley, W. D., and Rosenholtz, S. J. (1983).Educational Strategies That Increase Student Academic Achievement. Washington: U.S. Department of Education Office of Planning, Budget, and Evaluation.
Hendersen, A. T. (1987).The Evidence Continues to Grow: Parent Involvement Improves Student Achievement. Columbus, MD: National Committee for Citizens in Education.
Herman, J. L., and Yeh, J. P. (1983). Some effects of parent involvement in schools.The Urban Review 15: 11–16.
Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four factor index of social status. Unpublished manuscript. (Available from P.O. Box 1965, Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520.)
Jackson, B. L., and Cooper, B. S. (1989). Parent choice and empowerment: New roles for parents.Urban Education 24: 263–286.
Jacobs, M. K., and Goodman, G. (1989). Psychology and self-help groups: Predictions on a partnership.American Psychologist 44: 536–545.
Katz, A., and Bender, E. (eds.).The Strength in Us: Self-Help Groups in the Modern World. New York: New Viewpoints.
Klimes-Dougan, B., Lopez, J. A., Nelson, P., and Adelman, H. S. (1992). Two studies of low-income parents' involvement in schooling.The Urban Review 24: 185–202.
Lareau, A. (1987). Social-class differences in family-school relationships: The importance of cultural capital.Sociology of Education 60: 73–85.
Leon, A. M., Mazur, R., Montalvo, E., and Rodrieguez, M. (1984). Self-help support groups for Hispanic mothers.Child Welfare 63: 261–268.
Lieberman, M. A. (1986). Self-help groups and psychiatry.American Psychiatric Association Annual Review 5: 744–760.
Lieberman, M. A., and Bond, G. R. (1979). Problems in studying outcomes. In M. A. Lieberman, L. D. Borman, & Associates (eds.),Self-Help Groups for Coping with Crisis: Origins, Members, Processes, and Impact, pp. 323–340 San Francisco: Jossey/Bass.
Lieberman, M. A., Borman, L. D., and Associates (eds.).Self-Help Groups for Coping with Crisis: Origins, Members, Processes, and Impact. San Francisco: Jossey/Bass.
Maddux, J. E., and Stanley, M. A. (1986). Self-efficacy theory in contemporary psychology: An overview.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 4: 249–255.
Mannan, G., and Blackwell, J. (1992). Parent involvement: Barriers and opportunities.The Urban Review 24: 219–226.
McLaughlin, M. W., and Shields, P. M. (1987, October). Involving low-income parents in the schools: A role for policy?Phi Delta Kappan, pp. 156–160.
Miranda, M. (1980). The family natural support system in Hispanic communities: Preliminary research notes and recommendations. In R. Valle & W. Vega (eds.),Hispanic Natural Support Systems: Mental Health Promotion Perspective, pp. 25–32. State of California Department of Mental Health.
Myers, H. F., Alvy, K. T., Arrington, A., Richardson, M. A., Marigna, M., Huff, R., Main, M., and Newcomb, M. D. (1992). The impact of a parent training program on inner-city African-American families.Journal of Community Psychology 20: 132–147.
Nieto, F. (1985). Who's afraid of bilingual parents?Bilingual Review 12: 179–189.
Powell, T. J. (1987).Self-help Organizations and Professional Practice. Silver Springs, MD: National Association of Social Workers.
Powell, T. J. (1990).Working with Self-Help. Silver Springs, MD: National Association of Social Workers.
Rappaport, J. (1987). Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: Toward a theory for community psychology.American Journal of Community Psychology 15: 121–148.
Simoni, J. M. (1991, November). Parents helping parents: A school-based intervention for the 1990s.California Psychologist, pp. 15, 25.
Simoni, J. M. (1992a). Attenders and nonattenders in school-based mutual support groups for Latino parents. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Simoni, J. M. (1992b, August). School-based mutual support groups for Latino parents: Who participates? Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington.
Simoni, J. M. (1992c).School-Based Mutual Support Groups for Parents: An Intervention Guidebook. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service, temporary accession no. CG 023921.)
Simoni, J. M., and Adelman, H. S. (1991a, August). Enhancing school involvement: Mutual support groups for parents. Symposium on Parent Involvement in Schools and Schooling conducted at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco.
Simoni, J. M., and Adelman, H. S. (1991b, February). School-based mutual support groups for parents from low SES and ethnic minority backgrounds. Paper presented at the meeting of the California State Psychological Association, San Diego.
Swift, C., and Levin, G. (1987). Empowerment: An emerging mental health technology.Journal of Primary Prevention 8: 71–94.
Telleen, S. (1990). Parental beliefs and help seeking in mothers' use of a community-based family support program.Journal of Community Psychology 18: 264–276.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Simoni, J.M., Adelman, H.S. School-based mutual support groups for low-income parents. Urban Rev 25, 335–350 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01111854
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01111854