The influence on youth of schools and communities--working independently or in partnership--raises important questions. How can schools and community groups work strategically to promote changes that meet youth needs? What form do existing interactions take? What benefits and challenges does the interaction pose for schools and their potential…

Engaging parents and family members in their children's lives is critical to youth's success in school and life (Terzian & Mbwana, 2009; Mbwana et al. 2009). When families are involved, youth receive higher grades, attend school more frequently, perform better in standardized testing, show improved behavior and are more likely to graduate (Marks…