Intended to aid administrators, school principals, and other program coordinators, this guide was written to improve the effectiveness of family involvement strategies that are necessary for comprehensive school alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use prevention programs. Themes discussed are: (1) reasons for creating many forms of family involvement strategies in ATOD prevention and intervention programs; (2) types of family involvement strategies and how they meet prevention and intervention goals; (3) family involvement strategies for ATOD prevention and intervention programs; (4) criteria for planning effective prevention strategies and outreach; (5) ideas for families with multiple problems; (6) issues blocking implementation and suggestions for overcoming them; and (7) activities for staff development and program planning. An appendix provides samples of awareness, needs assessment, and planning activities designed to improve family involvement strategies in school ATOD prevention programs. Contains 60 endnotes and a 49-item bibliography. (SR)