Currently, Parent Corps has chapters in three states. The latest funding will expand the initiative to nine states. "Our goal is to have each parent leader mobilize 400 parent volunteers," said Sue Rusche, executive director of National Families in Action.

The federal funds will be used to recruit parents, train them, and pay for two Parent Corps organizers in each of the states.

Parent Corps works to reduce alcohol and other drug use among children. "Though schools are able to provide an awful lot, in many ways they have taken on too many parental roles, and it would be nice to put it back in the parents hands," said Dana Smith, a parent.

Parent Corps hopes to have a full-time parent leader in every school in the nation by 2014.