Grappling with high school dropout rates as high as 70 percent among the children of Latino immigrants, six Boys & Girls Clubs have launched an initiative to integrate youngsters into American life, and convince them of the value of a diploma.

The three-year pilot program is funded by a $3 million grant from the Goizueta Foundation. Participating are clubs include those in Marietta, Norcross, Brookhaven, Conyers, Gainesville and LaGrange.

The program focuses on Latino families, as well as youngsters, with the goal of addressing multiple issues facing immigrants, said initiative director Santiago Marquez.

"The high school dropout rate among Latino immigrants is alarming," he said added. "It's one of the worst dropout rates of any ethnic group, with only about 30 percent in Georgia graduating from high school.

"We're partnering with the Latin American Association and other groups to help families resolve some of the challenges they typically deal with" in educating their children, Marquez said.

"Those collaborations and partnerships will increase as we go along. Our goal is to be a one-stop shop in assisting families."

An initial survey of immigrant families "opened our eyes a little," Marquez noted. The top issue was language barriers, underlining the importance of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs for parents as well as their children. Domestic violence and access to health care were other primary concerns.

Tradition, the necessity of work and the expense of higher education opportunities for non-citizens combine to sideline the high school diploma tracks of many Latino youngsters, he added.

Charmaine Gonzalez, director of the Latino Outreach Program at the Gainesville Boys & Girls Club, agreed. "The dropout problem in the Hispanic community is very serious here between the eighth and 12th grades," she said, adding that work opportunities often seem more compelling to immigrant families than educational opportunities.

"Traditionally, education is not seen as something that will get them to the next level," Marquez said. "Many Latino families are accustomed to working to get ahead. Combine that with language barriers, a sense of isolation, children having to start over with new teachers and friends each time there is a move, and the adjustment can be very tough.

"Higher education is limited and expensive for the undocumented children of immigrants. If they can get into college, they end up paying international fees. And without reasonable access to higher education, a high school diploma can be less compelling."

In the United States, however, the lack of a diploma frequently will shuts closes doors to adequate wages and more stable work opportunities, they added.

The first phase of the initiative, which began earlier this year, involves outreach to Latino families and the identification of youngsters who may eventually be at risk of dropping out of school, Marquez said.

Soccer plays a starring role in the outreach, and since access to transportation is often a barrier that prevents Latino children from participating in athletics and other extracurricular activities, each of the six participating Boys & Girls Clubs has a transport van dedicated to the program. Outreach coordinators at each club site have spread the word about the initiative through various after-school programs, churches, and by knocking on doors, Marquez said.

In October, the clubs will form soccer leagues, and will begin offering Hispanic dance and ESOL programs.

"Soccer is a real passion among many Latino youngsters," Marquez said. "We hope to draw them into the program with activities they love, and then mainstream them into other recreational and educational programs the clubs offer, as well."

Activities for the initiative in Gainesville, for instance, include an indoor soccer league serving more than a hundred children, 99 percent of whom are Hispanic, said Gonzalez said.

A mountain biking club involving 30 kids, a summer camp program in Spanish and Latin dance classes are also part of the outreach, she added.

The club began offering ESOL classes for Latino parents this month.(September.) "We also offer special programs such as Smart Girls for girls and Passport to Manhood for boys. During Hispanic Heritage celebrations we will spotlight Latino culture, foods and traditions," Gonzalez said.

Future programs will include an emphasis on SAT and ACT preparation to help foster a "can-do" attitude among Latino youth in terms of higher education.

The second phase of the initiative will involve a more detailed needs assessment of Latino children and families, and staff development and training in working with Hispanic youngsters.

The final phase will be devoted to vesting business and community organizations in the effort, Marquez said. "We have to get the communities involved as stakeholders in helping these kids to stay away from drugs and gangs, and empowering them with education and faith in their futures," he added. "That will give the initiative sustainability, and help ensure that the effort doesn't just go away after the three-year grant period."

The source of the funding, The Goizueta Foundation ( www.goizuetafoundation.org), the source of the funding, was established by Roberto C. Goizueta in 1992 to provide financial assistance to educational and charitable institutions. Goizueta was chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of the Coca-Cola Co. until his death in 1997.