INVITATIONAL FLYER FOR PARENTS OF AMERICAN MUSLIM HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS

In the tradition of greeting in the Muslim faith,
Assalaamu Alaikum
(Peace be upon you)

Dear Respected Parent,

My name is Shifa Podikunju Hussain. I am a doctoral candidate in the school counseling program in the Department of Counselor Education at the University of Florida. I write to request your help in my research on adolescent Muslim students living in the U.S.

My doctoral dissertation research is entitled, "Acculturation issues of Muslim high school students in the U.S."  This study received funding in part from the Association for Spiritual,
Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling, a division of the American Counseling Association.  The major research activity is completion of an approximately 10-minute, online survey by high school-age Muslim students. I am contacting you because you are
the parent of a student eligible to participate in my study, and your consent is need for your student to participate.

As an American Muslim and a high school counselor for more than eight years, I have worked with Muslim and other bi-cultural teens who face issues associated with adaptation to mainstream American society. I am aware that parents often feel overwhelmed when faced with the deluge of cultural differences that affect their children in schools and in society. This study is intended to be a foundation of discovery for actual issues that young Muslims face growing up in America. I am interested in learning about Muslim high school students??? opinions in topics such as relationships with peers including Muslims and non-Muslims, the roles of boys and girls in family life growing up in America, how Muslims are
treated in America, and how connected Muslim boys and girls feel growing up in America.

The results from this study should be helpful to educators, parents, children, and educational professionals in ways beneficial to all. It also may be that this research will help alleviate some of the misconceptions that the larger society may have about Muslims living in America. If you have any other questions or would like to contact me regarding this study or the survey, you can welcome to call me at 352-339-4588 at any time, or my supervising professor at the University of Florida, Dr. Larry Loesch at 352-392-0731, extension, 225.

This study is not connected to your school and will not impact the academic standing of your student in any way. The school is asked to only distribute this informational flyer to Muslim students known to the school counselor. Muslim high school age students from across the United States are being requested to participate in this research by completing an approximately 10-minute online survey.

If you are willing for your child to participate in this 10-minute survey, please email me at hussain.shifa@gmail.com for information on the survey website address and the Personal Identification Number (PIN) needed to participate. All participants receive the same standard PIN number and therefore cannot be identified by this PIN. Use of the PIN number is part of the informed consent process.  By providing the URL and PIN to your child, you are acknowledging informed consent for your child to participate in my search.  You may withhold consent simply by not providing this information to your child. This procedure has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Florida (Protocol
#2007-U-1056).

I would appreciate your participation in this pioneering study on the acculturation issues faced by the Muslim children growing up in America.

I thank you in advance for your generous participation and your contribution to the literature on Muslims and their needs in America.

In the tradition of the Muslim faith,
Jazakallahu Khair,
(May God grant you good)



Shifa Podikunju Hussain M.Ed., Ed.,S.,                  Larry Loesch, Ph.D.,
NCC
Doctoral Candidate                                              Professor, Counselor Education
University of Florida                                           University of Florida
shifaph@ufl.edu or 352-339-4588


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Shifa Podikunju Hussain, M. Ed., Ed.S.
Doctoral Candidate
School Counseling
Department of Counselor Education
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida