"The Parent Corps is a brand new program that institutionalizes the parent movement of the late 1970s to early 1990s that proved it could change social norms in a healthy way," said Sue Rusche, chairman, president and chief executive of National Families in Action (NFIA), which proposed the Parent Corps concept during a 2000 drug-policy advisory meeting with the Bush campaign.

Through the Parent Corps, a group of parent leaders will be formed to recruit parents of students in middle and high schools, as well as volunteers from neighborhoods and communities. According to organizers, various types of groups may be formed depending upon the drug problems that parent leaders identify.

The U.S. Congress earmarked $5 million in seed money for the program in the 2003 fiscal year. Part of the funding is being used to pay parent leaders $25,000 each. An additional $500,000 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is supporting a training program for parent leaders.

"Our vision is a parent leader in every school," said Rusche.

For information about the Parent Corps and application requirements, visit the program website.

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