Strategies for involving parents of high‐risk youth in drug prevention: A three‐year longitudinal study in boys & girls clubs

Abstract

Involving parents of high-risk youth in community-based intervention programs is extremely challenging. This article presents six groups of strategies for recruiting and retaining parents of high-risk youth in a parent involvement program called the Family Advocacy Network (FAN Club). The FAN Club program accompanied a drug prevention program for the parents' early adolescent children who were members of Boys & Girls Clubs. Strategies presented are based on a longitudinal study that found positive program effects for youth in Boys & Girls Clubs that offered the FAN Club with the three-year youth drug prevention program and monthly youth activities. Strategies are: (1) identify the right person to lead the program; (2) clearly convey the purpose of the program; (3) build relationships of mutual trust, respect, and equality; (4) create parent ownership and group bonding; (5) provide easy access, incentives, and reminders; and (6) be flexible but persistent. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.