Runaway children and youth in Canada is the focus of an analysis and review of the literature which explores the following dimensions of the problem: history, prevalence, legislation, socio-psychological explanations, reasons for leaving home, runaway profile, and types of community services needed. (JW)

Experience with one young man in a school for troubled adolescents helps author understand how the application of voluntarism could help initiate troubled adolescents into a community of learners and empower them to take control of their lives. Describes the school's successful venture teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to provide work…

Describes the need for comprehensive domestic violence programs that include medical, legal, economic, psychological, and child care services. Although most states have family violence legislation, more work is needed to adequately implement these programs. (Author/JAC)

This paper summarizes reports and research on the homeless in the United States, presents findings of a survey of Red Cross chapters on services to the homeless, and describes programs for the homeless of selected Red Cross chapters. Section 1 discusses definitions of homelessness and methodologies used to count homeless people. The homeless are…

Large-scale energy or resource development projects in rural areas cause environmental, social, and economic changes in the community. The negative aspects of these impacts can be mitigated and the positive aspects enhanced, through the use of effective impact management strategies by local and state governments (together and separately), the…

Employs an "implementation estimate" technique to identify potential fiscal, administrative and political consequences of implementing the 100,000 minimum population provision for designating planning and service areas (PSAs) under the 1978 amendments to the Older Americans Act. Findings suggest implementation estimating is useful for…

Offers an overview of the concerns and barriers that many adult students face before enrolling in college. Reviews literature on adult students' academic concerns, social and psychological needs, and financial problems. (DMM)

The book explores the legal profession's role in protecting the rights of mentally handicapped individuals. Section 1 provides background on mental retardation and residential care, explaining that mental retardation and poverty are closely interrelated. Section 2 reviews the long accepted public policy of supplanting institutional care with…

Homelessness affects a wide cross-section of society. Causes of homelessness, attempted remedies, and potential solutions for the future are presented. Descriptions of the experiences of men, women, and children who have fallen through the "safety net" of social services are included from cities throughout the country. Support is given for the…

This paper addresses the issues concerning latchkey children in the United States and the need for parents, schools, and communities to support special programs for these children. It is emphasized that although these children have received increased attention, research findings have not conclusively shown what types of programs will best meet the…

The review summarizes research (1978-1989) on the medical needs of persons with mental retardation living in institutional and community settings. Specifically it addresses six questions: (1) do mentally retarded persons in institutions have more serious medical needs than their community counterparts? (2) when people with mental retardation are…

In Australia, the institutions of marriage and family are changing as reflected by the statistics on separation, divorce, and remarriage. Recent figures reveal an increase in divorce in the earlier years of marriage as well as a dramatic increase in the number of remarriages occuring across all age groups. Under the Family Law Act the government…

Cites six documents from the ERIC junior college collection that deal with financing community service programs. (AYC)

This publication is an edited record of a series of public seminars held between June and October of 1983. The seminars, entitled "Community Based Services for Children and Families," were based on two policy background papers commissioned by the Institute of Family Studies (ISF) on the topics of family support and children's services.…

The recent, widespread trend toward rural migration can create disturbances in the organization of the host community by overloading community services and by creating conflict between oldtimers and newcomers. To obtain information about community disturbances and migration in Michigan, questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 21,792…