Emerging research indicates an immense burden on children and families related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups with early childhood service providers (n=19) to demonstrate the pandemic's impact on families with very young children and early childhood services in two high-need…

Extension professionals often communicate program outcomes to external stakeholders using impact statements. We developed and evaluated four impact statements for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). We drafted the statements after conducting literature reviews for core content areas of EFNEP that include diet quality, food…

Universities contribution to society development in Africa has been a subject of discussion since many countries attained independence in the 1960s. The university was seen as having a function of emancipating society from poverty and ignorance. The premise of this view was based on the university's role in creating the ruling elite and knowledge…

Extension recognizes the importance of data in guiding programming decisions at the local level. However, allocating personnel resources and specializations at the state level is a more complex process. The West Virginia University Extension Service has adopted a data-driven process to determine the number, location, and specializations of county…

The article draws on work in Critical Geography Studies and Photovoice methodology, to illustrate the ways in which youth in an inner city conceptualize neighborhoods and public spaces. We utilize youth's photographs, narratives, and maps to tell a story of youth's lived experiences and argue that these experiences are vital sources of knowledge…

This case study evaluated the long-term viability of the community partnerships within the Program in Dance at Kennesaw State University (KSU). Data gathered from more than 40 university and community stakeholders was synthesized to gain an understanding of how these partnerships can be developed and sustained in the future. Strategic…

Having professional learning communities in place enables teachers and staff members to provide targeted assistance to students who need it. This article discusses Chardon (Ohio) High School's professional learning community program which provides time and support for students and teachers. Through the program, the teachers meet every week during…

Five preparatory steps for the evaluation of community-based programs, described as "front-end" challenges, are discussed: (1) understanding the reasons for the evaluation; (2) securing resources; (3) establishing credibility and enthusiasm; (4) developing consensus about goals and objectives; and (5) observing and fine tuning the…

Flexible service dollars can help in tailoring services to meet the unique needs of rural children with serious emotional disturbance and their families. This paper discusses terminology, programmatic components, and uses of flexible service dollars in North Idaho and upstate New York, to highlight such family needs as economic supports,…

Asserts income inequality will grow as government spending cutbacks lead to funding cuts for social benefits and services. Notes the shift from federal to local administration of social welfare services suggests greater resource allocation power for local communities. Draws on the literature of multicultural community practice to focus on…

This exploratory resource allocation model for implementing community-based supported employment services for persons with mental retardation uses a multivariate linear regression approach to project the hours required to develop a job site based on the size of the community, the rate of unemployment, and the percent of service jobs. (Author/DB)

Reports findings from a national survey of 385 day support providers regarding conversion of resources from segregated services to supported employment. Approximately 23% of all agencies and 37% of agencies with both facility-based programs and supported employment indicate that they had converted resources to community-based employment.…

A reasonable, well-balanced high school interscholastic sports program should emphasize involvement, skill development, and carry-over. It should not stress sports for the few gifted or talented participants. Middle school needs and the advantages of coordinated school-community physical education activities are discussed. (PP)

This article uses recent developments in United Kingdom services as a case study to identify challenges facing the provision of residential supports to people with intellectual disabilities. It discusses responding to existing levels of unmet needs and increasing demand, reducing inequalities in access and service quality, and obtaining and…

This report deals with the special resources given to several school districts in Sweden for dealing with problems concerning the coordination of leisure activities and pupil welfare, with emphasis on the planning in Malmo. Three models are applied: (a) an educational planning model, where planning, process, and results stages are emphasized; (b)…