GLENDALE : School’s Families Program Successful

Eleven Glendale families have graduated from the Families and Schools Together program, for families with children who have behavioral problems or who weren’t working at their academic ability, said John Poplawski, Los Angeles County’s supervising deputy probation officer.

The Cerritos School program, which encourages parents to spend time with their children to prevent kids from joining gangs, abusing alcohol and dropping out of school was successful in its first year, officials said.

The program requires a collaborative effort among parents, school personnel and counselors. It originated in Milwaukee and is in place in 100 schools throughout the nation, said Donna Domroy, a grant writer with Glendale Family Services.

Glendale Family Services worked with the Glendale Unified School District, the United Way, and the Los Angeles County Probation Department to bring the program to Cerritos School.

After school administrators identify at-risk children, a team of school personnel, mental health and drug abuse specialists and parents contacts these students’ parents and invites them to group meetings.

At eight weekly meetings, parents have dinner with other parents and are encouraged to spend 15 minutes a day playing with their child.

Playtime is suggested because children tend to disrupt class if they do not get enough attention at home, Domroy said.

If parents and elementary schoolchildren are taught to communicate with each other and with school officials it will help children be more productive and prevent problems from occurring later on, Poplawski said.

“Part of the program’s focus is delinquency prevention--if we keep kids in school and support them, the chances are they won’t be committing crimes,” he said.

Meetings also involve presentations on drug and alcohol abuse and games between the families and their children, Poplawski said. There are monthly follow-up sessions with parents for several years after they graduate from the program.

Officials plan to take another group of Cerritos School parents through the program this fall.

Glendale Family Services has applied for several grants to expand the program to another Glendale elementary school.