This double-number newsletter issue makes the case for collaborations between families, schools, and communities as a stronger force for educating and enriching the lives of our children. It also highlights places where such partnerships are working. The newsletter includes the following articles (1) "Family Support and School-Linked…

Twelve papers describe recent developments at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) on the campus of Gallaudet College. Topics covered include the following: MSSD'S role as a change model; an Instrumental Enrichment project designed to increase adolescents' thinking skills; an approach integrating reading, English grammar, and composition…

A comparison of the salient characteristics of Canadian and United States bilingual education programs suggests various settings where it would be desirable to introduce children to schooling in their home language. These settings include: (1) the various ethnic communities in the United States, (2) multilingual developing countries, (3) parts of…

The Family Resource Coalition of America (FRCA) and the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice convened a meeting of evaluators, policymakers, and program practitioners to discuss the issue of evaluation in the field of family support. The goal was to bring together those who were implementing programs, evaluating programs, and…

This article examines a collaborative practice-based research project. It recounts the experiences of a kindergarten teacher as she implemented a program to increase family involvement in education. The text is based on classroom documents, parent meetings, and parent interviews. The setting for the narrative is a Basic School, a type of school…

This newsletter theme issue discusses collaboration between professionals and families whose children have emotional disorders. Background information is provided on the concept of empowerment and the development of collaboration as a principle for delivering services. Factors that lead to empowerment and barriers experienced by families are…

This newsletter issue highlights a variety of successful youth, family, and community program models that have been developed to curb substance abuse, lessen risk factors, and strengthen protective and supportive resources for individuals and their communities. The newsletter includes the following articles: (1) "A Systems Approach to the…

This issue contains a summary of the recommendations that emerged from discussions at a conference on early childhood learning. Several key areas emerged from the conference work groups, including universal access to daycare, improving the quality of professional development, and increasing parental involvement in early childhood education. The…

Seven papers in this special issue address the topic of consultation models for behaviorally disordered students and their teachers. Among subtopics discussed are development and evaluation of consultation programs, accountability, and teacher training for the consulting role. (CL)

In recent years, researchers and practitioners have become increasingly interested in father/male involvement in early childhood programs. However, few empirical studies have examined early childhood educators' efforts to involve fathers in such programs. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess early childhood educators' efforts to…

This newsletter issue focuses on the theme of fostering collaboration between parents and professionals in meeting the mental health needs of children. Structured group interviews (focus groups) were held with both parents and professionals who have been members of decision making boards and committees. Interview excerpts illustrate findings that…

This theme issue of "Focal Point" offers an overview of a range of children's mental health case management issues. Articles include: "Case Management for Families and Children" (Theresa J. Early); "Expectations of Case Management for Children with Emotional Problems: Parent Perspectives" (Richard Donner and others);…

The 16 papers in this issue look at the needs of youth through the 1990s, describe ways librarians are meeting those needs, suggest additional services, and analyze the Mohonk Conference held in 1986 and its impact on libraries in the state of Youth in These Changing Times" (Jennifer Birckmeyer); (2) "Oh Boy, Here They Come! Library…

This theme issue provides four articles that address family involvement in the transition of youth with disabilities from school to work. The first article, "Family Involvement" by Marge Goldberg and Shauna McDonald, offers evidence of the importance of family involvement at this stage of the individual's life, reports on families' experiences,…

This document is comprised of the 12 monthly issues of a newsletter providing support and information for providers of child care for school-age children. The featured articles for each month are: (1) "Reflections on the School-Age Field" (September); (2) "Tips for Effective Service-Learning Projects in Out-of-School Time…