PARENT RESOURCES

 

1) National Middle School Association (NMSA), established in 1973, is a voice for those committed to the educational and developmental needs of young adolescents. NMSA is the only national education association dedicated exclusively to those in the middle level grades. www.nmsa.org

 

NMSA Research Summaries:

    A] Adolescent Developmental Characteristics and Middle Level Best Practices (April 2007)          http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/DevelopmentalCharacteristics/tabid/1414/Default.aspx

    B] Adolescent Health, Wellness, and Safety (October 2006)http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Health/tabid/267/Default.aspx

    C] Parent Involvement (August 2006)http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/ParentInvolvement/tabid/274/Default.aspx

    D]Advisory Programs (July 2006)http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/AdvisoryPrograms/tabid/812/Default.aspx

    E] Heterogeneous Grouping (February, 2007) http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/HeterogeneousGrouping/tabid/1264/Default.aspx

    F] Exemplary Middle Schools (1996)
An updated version of this research summary is forthcoming http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Summary4/tabid/256/Default.aspx

 

2] NMSA’s Family Connection
The Family Connection is a parent newsletter. It was designed as a parent engagement tool for building administrators. It was developed as part of its ongoing commitment encouraging family and community involvement in the education of young adolescents http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Summary4/tabid/256/Default.aspx

 

3] Society of Adolescent Medicine: This site contains a list of position statements of the Society of Adolescent Medicine in an effort to advance the health and well being of adolescents.

  A] Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) Position Papers: http://www.adolescenthealth.org/PositionStatements.htm.

  B] Teen and family resources: http://www.adolescenthealth.org/teens.htm

 

4] Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) is located at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.  The Parents' Resource Center provides links to parent friendly resources on child and adolescent health issues and guides to help parents assess health programs at school. http://www.healthinschools.org/parents/index.htm

CHHCS also provides health information for children and teens: http://www.healthinschools.org/students/index.htm

 

5] National Association of School Nurses

The National Association of School Nurses improves the health and educational success of children and youth by developing and providing leadership to advance school nursing practice. This website contains information on many issues pertaining to school nursing practice. 

  A] Backpacks may be of particular interest.http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=204

  B] Bullying: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=266

 

6] Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

ASCD promotes a whole child approach that encompasses all factors required for successful learning. ASCD defines a successful learner as one who is knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, civically engaged, prepared for economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond formal schooling. http://www.wholechildeducation.org   Other ASCD 2004 Adopted Positions include "The Whole Child",  Health and Learning,  High-Stakes Testing, and the Achievement Gap. http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.1f07a81af3aa4bb6dd1b2110d3108a0c/#Health_and_Learning

 

7] National Association of School Boards of Education (NASBE) supports the work of State School Boards of Education in a wide variety of education related issues. http://www.nasbe.org/educational_issues/educational_issues.htm

 

8] Thrive (Strong minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Schools) is Rhode Island's Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP). As partners in Thrive, the Rhode Island Departments of Education and Health work to build infrastructure supports with state, school and community partners to help create safe, healthy and nurturing schools that reduce barriers to learning. Click on www.thriveri.org to find Rhode Island based information and resources related to health and education in schools.

 

 

9] i-SAFE Inc.outreach initiative brings students, parents, school and community leaders together to spread knowledge about internet safety.  Students can educate their peers about online dangers. Parents can learn about hazards in cyberspace, and then help to spread this valuable information within their communities. Schools can take Internet safety beyond the classroom by organizing teachers, advisors, administrators, and counselors to share the importance of Internet safety.   For more information go to: http://www.isafe.org/channels/?ch=op

 

10] The Rhode Island Parent Information Network’s (RIPIN)  mission is to inform, educate, support and empower all families to be equal partners in advocacy for the education, health, and socioeconomic well being of their children and families; and to achieve family-centered systems changes, which are culturally competent and community based.  http://www.ripin.org/

 

11] Parent Link RI: This website links with local programs for parents of pre-teen and teens including workshops on family communication, recreational activities for your teen or your whole family, counseling services, after-school programs and activities, educational services for your teen, services for kids with special health care needs, and more. Click here for information. www.parentlinkri.org