As with all our sites, this is a growing one which
we will add to as time permits. We have attempted to be very selective about
the books and other resources that we are recommending. This is a listing
of some of our favorites and/or most often used. Just scroll down the list
or go directly to a category below that interests you.
- Children & Families
- Family Involvement in Education
- Parenting ~ Child Care
- Collaboration & Community-building
- Successful Strategies ~ Effective Programs
- Consumer Involvement in Planning & Decision-making (coming soon!)
 CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Kids Count Data Book by The
Annie E. Casey Foundation and Center for the Study of Social Policy
(The Annie E. Casey Foundation, One Lafayette Place, Greenwich CT 06830
· 203-661-2773 · fax 203-661-5127)
The State of America's Children Yearbook by The Children's Defense Fund (CDF,
25 E. Street NW, Washington DC 20001) Each year, CDF publishes a compilation
of statistics, current research and best practices focusing on the health
and well-being of our children. The yearbook provides an extensive look
at family income; health; child care and early education; food and nutrition;
children and families in crisis; children, violence and crime; education;
adolescent pregnancy prevention and youth development. Includes numerous
tables and break-outs by state.
The Future of Children published three times a year
by the Center for the Future
of Children, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Each issue
focuses on a single topic pertaining to children and brings together a number
of relevant articles by leading experts in the field. Recent past issues
include Children in Poverty, Welfare to Work, The Juvenile Court, Financing
Child Care, and Special Education for Students with Disabilities. Watch
for an upcoming issue on Financing Schools. Issues are free. To be added
to the mailing list, write to: The Circulation Department, Center for
the Future of Children, 300 Second St., Suite 102, Los Altos CA 94022. For
electronic editions of current and past issues click on the link above.
FRC Report published quarterly by the Family Resource
Coalition (200 S. Michigan Ave., 16th Fl., Chicago IL 60604 · 312-341-0900)
Issues focus on family support topics and usually include examples of model
programs as well as best practices. The Report is a benefit of membership
in FRC ($50 individual; $90 organization). Individual back issues--such
as Fatherhood and Family Support, Empowerment and Latino Families, and Family
Suport and School-Linked Services--are also available for purchase.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION
Family Involvement in Children's Education: Successful Local Approaches
(1997 · Free from the US Department of Education ·
1-800-USA-LEARN) is jam-packed with concrete examples of school programs
and structure changes that have broken down the common barriers to family
involvement.
Reaching All Families: Creating Family-Friendly Schools
(1997 · Free from the US Department of Education · 1-800-USA-LEARN)
offers a variety of possible school strategies for helping to involve families
at back-to-school time and throughout the school year.
Urgent Message: Families Crucial to School Reform by Anne Lewis
and Anne Henderson (1997 · Center for Law and Education,
1875 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 510, Washington DC 20009 · 202-462-7688)
not only tells why it is important to involve families, but provides
good examples, results and resources.
A New Generation of Evidence: The Family is Critical to Student
Achievement edited by Anne T. Henderson and Nancy Berla (1994)
and The Evidence Continues to Grow: Parent Involvement Improves
Student Achievement edited by Anne Henderson (1987) summarize the
growing body of research documenting the positive effect on children when
families are involved in their education. (Both are available from the
Center for Law and Education, 1875 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 510, Washington
DC 20009 · 202-462-7688)
PARENTING ~ CHILD CARE
The Heart of a Father (1996) covers a mans relationship
with his own father, fathering how-tos and fathering stages; The &
Secrets of Effective Fathers (1992) discusses the characteristics
of successful fathers. Both books by Ken Canfield, PhD, the founder
and president of the National
Center for Fathering. The Center publishes a quarterly magazine, Todays
Father, conducts a nationwide radio program, and operates a great website
for fathers and others. For more information, call national Center for Fathering
at 1-800-593-DADS.
COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING
Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding
and Mobilizing a Community's Assets by John P. Kretzmann and
John L. McKnight (1993 · Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research,
Neighborhood Innovations Network, Northwestern University · 847-491-3518
· fax 708-491-9916) According to Kretzmann and McKnight, "communities
cannot be rebuilt by focusing on their needs, problems, and deficiencies.
Rather, community building starts wtih the process of locating the assets,
skills and capacities of residents, citizens associations, and local insitutions."
This book should be in the hands of anyone is chock-full of real-life examples
and stories, lists, and resources Chapters guide readers through the community-building
process: Releasing Individual Capacities, Releasing the Power of Local Associations
and Organizations, Capturing Local Insitutions for Community Building, Rebuilding
the Community Economy, Asset-Based Community Development: Mobilizing an
Entire Community, and Providing Support for Asset-Based Development: Policies
and Guidelines.
Know Your Community: A Step-by-Step Guide to Community Needs and
Resources Assessment by Bryan Samuels, Nilofer Ahsan and Jill
Garcia (1995 · $32.50/$24.95 members · Family Resource Coalition,
200 S. Michigan Ave., 16th Floor, Chicago IL 60604 · 312-341-0900
· fax 312-341-9361) Though we haven't actually used this yet
for a complete project, it looks like an excellent tool for communities
interested in conducting a community driven, asset-oriented and inclusive
needs assessment that "builds community capacity while identifying
community needs." Very clear, thorough and user-friendly. Chapters
cover Establishing a Community Planning Team, Defining Community Boundaries,
Developing a Statistical Profile, Assessing Needs from Residents' Perspectives,
Identifying Assets and Resources, and Setting Community Priorities. Includes
sample surveys, worksheets, matrixes and forms--many of which can be customized
on a Mac or DOS diskette that's included.
The Quickening of America: Rebuilding Our Nation, Remaking Our
Lives by Frances Moore Lappé and Paul Martin DuBois (1994
· $15.00 · Jossey-Bass, Inc.)
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES / EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS
New Expectations: Community Strategies for Responsible Fatherhood
by James A. Levine with Edward W. Pitt (1995 · $22.00 ·
Families and Work Institute, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York NY 10001 ·
212-465-2044) offers a"jargon-free" review of research, a
practical guide to successful strategies and tips from leading practitioners,
and a wealth of examples of successful fatherhood programs nationwide.
Getting Men Involved: Strategies for Early Childhood Programs
by James Levine, Dennis Murphy, PhD and Sherrill Wilson, PhD (1993 ·
$12.95 · Families and Work Institute, 330 Seventh Avenue, New York
NY 10001 · 212-465-2044) is a user-friendly, solution-focused
manual for involving men in programs for young children.
CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT IN PLANNING & DECISION-MAKING
© 1998 The Family Connection of St.
Joseph County, Inc.
- Web address: http://community.michiana.org/famconn
- E-mail: famconn@michiana.org
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