What's The Research On...?

FAST strengthens families
FAST aims to enhance children's academic and social performace by building relationships among parents, schools, and the community.

Supporting African American Boys in School
Jeffrey Lewis argues for the importance of finding ways to connect African American boys’ natural mentors to their school lives. While the important individuals the boys identify already serve many mentor functions, these adults may not be well equipped to provide other functions, for example, providing “bridging” social capital. Natural mentors have few opportunities to connect boys with more advantaged individuals or with employers or institutions of higher education institutions, Lewis says. But school staff are likely to have access to bridging capital. When made aware of the boys’ support networks, school staff could provide this service to the boys and to their mentors. The entire social network as well would be strengthened.

Cultural Brokering Stresses Students, Families
When moving to a new country, families often need help navigating the culture and language. Through their experiences in school and making new friends, children usually learn the language and adjust to the culture more quickly than their parents. As a result, in immigrant families, children often act as translators and interpreters during phone calls and daily conversations. The acts of translating and interpreting may actually help students academically. However, the responsibilities of translating and interpreting for adults can create stress for children and also lead to tension among family members which can, under certain conditions, lower children’s performance in school.