FACT Focus Area:
Families, Communities, and Schools

FACT supports projects that build community capacity to support children and youth, and link families, schools and communities. Topics include: literacy, school reform, out-of-school time, youth assets, technology in education, youth-at-risk, youth leadership development, youth sports, recreation and family involvement in schools.

• Learn more about funded projects
• Learn more about FACT's annual Request for Proposals
• Search for faculty or community grant partners

While recent national attention has been focused on school violence and delinquency, FACT is taking a positive, proactive approach to youth development. We support projects that build on the strengths of youth rather than focusing on their defecits. We are interested in building community capacity to support youth and link families, schools and communities.

Through our research projects and collaborative efforts, FACT seeks to support healthy communities, strong families and safe schools.

Our projects, which are diverse in scope, focus on: positive youth development, music therapy for violence prevention, sports and recreation, early literacy development, impacts of zero-tolerance policies, and school choice.

This section provides a sampling of FACT projects on families, youth, and schools.

GiveEm40 Coalition: Youth Partnership of Northwest Michigan
Several violent incidents among youth and children have grabbed headlines recently and focused national attention on preventing such tragedies in the future.

The big question seems to be, "how do we raise confident, healthy children whoare prepared for life's challenges and know how to resolve conflict through nonviolent means?" As part of a $100,000 FACT grant awarded last spring, MSU researchers and Extension staff are partnering with five Northwest Michigan counties to build positive youth assets in the region.

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A Music Therapy Approach to Violence Prevention for At-Risk Adolescents
In Fall 1999, a FACT Coalition research project engaged at-risk teenagers in music therapy sessions to build their self-esteem and prevent violent behavior.

"Drumming for Violence Prevention," took an asset-based approach to working with at-risk youth by building on the teens' affinity to music and their creative impulses.

The project takes a preventative approach to youth violence by increasing youths' sense of self-esteem and teaching them strategies for non-aggressive conflict resolution and anger management. The goal is to decrease adolescent delinquent behavior.

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Family Choice of Schools and The Future of Community
Project leaders:
Gary Sykes, College of Education
David Plank, College of Education
John Schweitzer, Center for Urban Affairs

Youth Development Through Physical Activity and Nutrition Education
Project leaders:
Crystal F. Branta, Department of Kinesiology
Martha Ewing, Department of Kinesiology
Robert Benham, Department of Kinesiology
Sharon Hoerr, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Supporting Early Literacy Development in At-Risk Children: A Community School Approach to School Readiness
Project leaders:
Anne K. Soderman, Department of Family and Child Ecology
Patricia Farrell, Department of Family and Child Ecology and University Outreach
Dawn Koger, MSUE CYF Family Strengths and Food, Nutrition and Health

Balanced and Restorative Justice Community Education Project (BARJ)
Project leaders:
William Davidson, Department of Psychology
Nancy Walker, MSU Institute for Children, Youth and Families

Impacts of "Zero Tolerance" Legislation on Students, Families and Communities of Michigan
Project leaders:
Christopher Dunbar, College of Education
Francisco Villarruel, Department of Family and Child Ecology
Christine K. Conley, Mt. Pleasant Public Schools
Robert J. Cosan, Gratiot-Isabella Regional Education Service District (RESD)