Project Support: engaging children and families in the educational process

The literature on dropout prevention reveals that a triumvirate of support--from the family, the school, and the community--is necessary to engage children in the educational process. This paper describes Project Support, a federally funded five-year program for at-risk youths that focused on alcohol, drug, and dropout prevention in four low-income, high-minority public school districts in the suburbs of New York City. Of several avenues taken, two were very effective: a school-based mentoring program designed for middle school students and the Outdoor and Environmental Education program that took place during summers and intermittently throughout the school year. The sense of achievement, bonding, and success experienced by participants was acknowledged by administrators, evaluators, parents, and other observers.