A Case for Expanded School-Community Partnerships in Support of Positive Youth Development

Abstract

This article discusses the results of two studies exploring the status of partnerships between schools and community organizations. In the first study, 90 teachers, administrators, and support service staff reported that the most common type of partnership involved youth development organizations, mental health providers, parents and residents, and the juvenile justice sector. Respondents described the need for further partnership expansion with the business sector, parents and residents, the juvenile justice sector, and youth development organizations, particularly in relation to academic support, youth development, and prevention and social service programming. Given the importance of youth development organizations in supporting these program and service delivery needs, the second study surveyed 389 school staff members working in schools that had out-of-school-time programs operating in their communities. Results indicated that communication, coordination, and collaboration within these partnerships were often limited in scope. The need for more expansive and strategic school-community partnerships is discussed, particularly the role of the school social worker in fostering these linkages and system designs.