USA Funds Supports Program that Encourages Parental Involvement

USA Funds^® recently provided a grant to help launch a program that encourages parental involvement and strong family structures to promote student success. USA Parents, a program for parents and guardians of students involved in Science Bound, provides information, resources, enrichment and encouragement.

Science Bound is a collaborative initiative that encourages underrepresented Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) students in seventh through 12th grades to enroll and graduate in the fields of science, technology and engineering. The Science Bound initiative is sponsored by IPS, Purdue University and the Indianapolis business community. USA Funds provided a grant of $90,000 to fund USA Parents.

The ultimate goal of USA Parents is to enhance the probability of success of Science Bound participants.

USA Parents offers various programs to parents to build stronger family relationships and enhance the home environment. Participants are required to attend at least 75 percent of the programs. Offerings include:

• USA Parents "Back to College." USA Parents provides tuition, child care, tutoring and the opportunity for parents to take college courses through computer-based training at a central location.
• USA Parents Camps. An integral part of Science Bound is each student's participation in a summer camp at Purdue University's main campus. Parents are invited to attend a "camp" for a day to two during their child's stay.
• USA Parents Awareness Groups. Monthly, topic-oriented support groups investigate different needs of the parents.
• USA Funds Unlock the Future^™. This early-awareness-program informs parents of the value of education following high school, the range of education options available to students and the wide availability of financial aid. It also encourages parents to take an active role in their child's future.
• Indiana Web Academy. Parents and Science Bound students participate in parent-child teams to build their own computers at home.
• Science Bound Retreat. Parents and children attend a weekend retreat at a local campground.