Public Schools and the Revitalization of Impoverished Communities: School-Linked, Family Resource Centers

Abstract

To revitalize the impoverished inner cities, the children in these communities must receive an adequate education. Unfortunately, schools often have been part of the problem rather than part of the solution, as evidenced by deteriorating buildings and disproportionately high dropout rates. Fortunately, there is a growing recognition that the problems plaguing severely distressed communities have a profound impact on children's school performance. Children must receive the full range of services they need to be ready to learn and be successful in school, and parents must receive the assistance they need to support their child's education, health, growth, and development. Communities are designing programs that link a number of services to schools through school-linked, family resource centers. This article discusses the rationale behind this movement, describes several exemplary programs already developed, and discusses the promise this movement holds for being a major social work strategy for revitalizing impoverished communities.