Resources for NIU Families

Hands-On Help to the Rescue (websites)

College Parents of America
A comprehensive, fee-based membership site that houses tons of information on college savings plans, college cost-busting tips, equipping your child to succeed at school, and campus life and issues.

Revolution Health’s College Health
Not sure how to relate to what’s going on with your child at college? This “College Health Guide for Parents” may give you a better idea. You’ll find articles addressing the emotional turmoil of adjusting to school and relationship challenges; on recognizing the signs of anxiety, eating disorders and depression; and advice for dealing with alcohol, drugs and sex.

What Parents Need to Know about College Drinking
An excellent resource page on things to consider when your child is choosing a college, staying involved during your child's freshman year, and getting assistance if your child is involved in an alcohol incident.

Campus Safety
Staff and faculty are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy campus and learning environment that challenges and inspires students to be academically and personally successful.  This website includes information on student safety tips, safety services, and common frequently asked questions.    

Student Health 101: Parent Perspective
An interactive online magazine that engages your student in living healthfully and developing new skills needed for succeeding in school and beyond.  Parent Perspective provides a quick-to-read summary of articles, designed to help you support your student through the growth and challenges he or she faces. 

A Library of Resources (books)

College of the OverWhelmed: The Campus Mental Health Crisis and What To Do About It
by Richard Kadison and Theresa Foy Digeronimo

133 Ways to Avoid Going Cuckoo When the Kids Fly the Nest: A Parent's Guide for Surviving the Empty Nest Syndrome
by Lauren Schaffer and Sandy Fleischl Wasserman

Almost Grown: Launching Your Child from High School to College
by Patricia Pasick

Caring for the Mind: The Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health
by Dianne Hales and Robert E. Hales

The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy
by Edward M. Hallowell, MD

College Rules!: How to Study, Survive and Succeed in College
by Nist, Sherrie & Holschuh

Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years
by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller

Empty Nest, Full Heart: The Journey from Home to College
by Andrea Van Steenhouse

The Empty Nest: When Children Leave Home
by Shelley Bovey

Getting Ready for College
by Polly Berent

Helping Your First-Year College Student Succeed: A Guide for Parents
by Richard H. Mullendore and Cathie Hatch

A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League
by Ron Suskind

How to Get the Most Out of College
by Nancy Schlossberg and Arthur Chickering 

The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior to College Life
by Laura Kastner and Jennifer Fugett Wyatt

Let the Journey Begin: A Parent's Monthly Guide to the College Experience
by Jacqueline MacKay and Wanda Ingram

Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years 
by Karen Levin Cobum and Madge Lawrence Treger

Marketing Yourself to the Real World: 10 Simple Steps to Gain a Competitive Edge in the Job Market
by Susan Caplan

Millennials Rising
by Neil Howe

Millennials Go to College: Strategies for a New Generation on Campus
by William Strauss

The Naked Roommate
by Harlan Cohen

Parenting: Adjusting Your Stewardship as Your Children Leave Home
by Richard M. Eyre

Rising Millennials Face Worldview Conflict
by Shirley A. Carson

She's Leaving Home: Letting Go As Daughter Goes to College
by Connie Jones

The Ultimate College Survival Guide
by Janet Farrar Worthington and Ronald T. Farrar

When Kids Go to College: A Parent's Guide to Changing Relationships
by Barbara M. Newman and Philip R. Newman

When Your Kid Goes to College; A Parents Survival Guide
by Carol Barkin

You're on Your Own, But I'm Here if You Need Me
by Marjorie Savage