Non-Intact Families and

1. Non-Intact Families and Risk of Drop Out By Jonathan L. Morton Pacific University

2. Definitions • Delinquency: Acts against persons or property in school that disrupt the educational processes of teaching and learning. • Nuclear Family: A family group consisting of a father, mother, and biological children who all share a exclusive living space. • Parentification: Parentification is a form of role reversal, in which a child of a parent is inappropriately given the role of meeting the emotional or physical needs of the parent or of the other children. • School crime:A student in possession, use, or distribution of alcohol or drugs; the possession of a weapon; and assaults on teachers, school officials, or other students. School misconduct:the use of abusive language, destroying or defacing school property, smoking, insubordination, failure to attend detention, cheating, and throwing things in class. • School nonattendance:class cutting, leaving school without permission, and skipping school. • Truancy:dropping out, refusal to attend school. Patricia H. Jenkins Sociology of Education , Vol. 68, No. 3 (Jul., 1995), pp. 221-239

3. What Defines a non-intact family ? It’s difficult being both Dad and Mom! Any family that does not fall into the traditional definition of a biological father, mother, and children.

4. Family Composition Today There is no longer ONE model for a family Families exist in all different ages, sizes, sexes, and configurations For numerous reasons

5. Family/Student Mobility When families are non-intact they often deal with the issue of mobility far more frequently. Whether seeking out family help or following a job, non-intact families tend to move more frequently. Often single or even dual parents must work and the child returns home to an empty house. Sometimes this freedom can lead to school nonattendance, school misconduct and even school crime. However, unlike previous beliefs non-intact families do not automatically produce delinquency and truancy.

6. Variables of Success Variables such as parentification,poverty, parental involvement, limited English proficiency (LEP), low academic achievement, mobility, lack of organizational skills and suspension/expulsion can all be risk factors for dropping out. Alternatively factors such as student self efficacy, parental involvement/techniques, organizational skills, coping skills, family psychological support, and family/school/community incorporated support can all be heavy contributors to the academic success of children

7. Redefining Family The definition of family in the 21st century Is being challenged like never before in the History of the U.S. There is no longer any one image or configuration of family members that explains, represents, or defines Family. No matter what the family looks like education is usually a priority. Just because a child is experiencing an “unconventional” upbringing it is not a automatic predictor of the risk of Drop Out. In fact several researchers propose that the dissolution of a marriage can in some situations be a great improvement of a child’s home life.

8. Successful Programs Migrant Head Start Program National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities Creating Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities to Achieve successful futures

9. What Now? With so many children growing up in non-intact families, what can we do as a society to support and not marginalize these children ? We must recognize that non-intact families are not an automatic educational hindrance. There are numerous successful parents in non-intact families who are investing the long necessary hours of parent/child interaction which develops the experience, knowledge, and techniques that are the ring of keys that will unlock the potential of these children. IT IS THAT SIMPLE!!!