Parent involvement with African American families in expanded school mental health practice

The positive impact of parental involvement on academic success has been well documented, but less is known about parental involvement with African American families. The studies that do exist often label African American families as uninvolved in their children's education. They often overlook the different aspects of participation that are critical to understanding the involvement of African American families. This article discusses the literature on African American parental involvement. Based on the Multicultural Counseling Competencies framework, an approach for working with African American families is described. Specific implications for practitioners working in expanded school mental health are provided.