Search

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the influence of a community-based, service-coordination and delivery intervention (CONNECT Program) on urban, minority parents’ human capital, financial capital, community social capital, and service utilization. Method: This study used a pre–posttest single group design and mixed methods as well as incorporated principles of community-based research. Peer outreach workers engaged 80 urban, minority parents living in Manhattan (New York City) in the CONNECT Program, which offered them referrals to formal agency services and informal community supports as well as psychoeducational workshops on varied topics. Results: Findings from paired-samples t-tests indicate that at follow-up, 49 participants displayed significant improvements after 12 months in their education, neighborhood trust, service use, and problem resolution. Discussion: Findings suggest that CONNECT was feasible within the agency and community. Moreover, CONNECT was associated with higher human and community social capital as well as service utilization outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores whether family and community social capital variables influence children's school status in Mexico. Additional predictors related to human and financial capital were included as control variables. Two hundred and four mothers were interviewed as part of a larger study on the impact of social capital on children's street work in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Logistic regression results suggest that family and community protective factors associated with children's academic achievement include parental help with homework, mothers’ academic aspirations, extended family support and mothers’ social support networks. The author reports on family- and community-based predictors of children's school status and discusses the social work profession's role in strengthening families and communities to enhance children's academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]