Family support programs emphasize a proactive approach toward the prevention of problems including the following characteristics: partnership with families built on a relationship of mutual respect; participants as a vital resource in program decision - making and governance; community - based and culturally relevant services; education, information and skill - building for parents; and voluntary participation.
To illustrate, community school advocates have
emphasized the importance of student
support program ingredients that are largely seen as «non-instructional» (e.g. out - of - school time, school - based health,
family engagement, college and career readiness, and early education), that are then assumed to add up to a comprehensive and coherent strategy at the school.