Opportunities for Community Involvement Benefits vary across stakeholder groups and with the type and intensity of activity. There are risks in developing partnerships, as well, especially when activities are poorly planned or executed, or they do not help to satisfy goals for all groups. This module discusses community involvement in four areas: Communicating Volunteering Extended Learning Decision Making The following table provides a description of each category as well as some expected benefits for the student, faculty and staff, and community stakeholder groups. The list of benefits is not exhaustive but is intended to serve as a guide when matching school goals with opportunities for involving members of the larger community. Did You Know? The U.S. Department of Education has several publications and programs that support schools making the effort to develop strong parent and community relationships. Much of this information is free and available on the Department's Web site. Some specific examples of Web-based information are given below. Community Update America Goes Back to School Family Involvement in Children's Education: Successful Local Approaches Reaching All Families: Creating Family-Friendly Schools Strong Families