Outlines activities planned by the 69 local development districts in the 11 member states to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Summarizes the results of a questionnaire sent to all local development districts to determine the commission's most important accomplishments and remaining needs. (NEC)

The article describes the county's efforts to promote flouridation and improve the general dental health of its citizens, especially those in the rural areas. It describes the development, philosophy, and growing popularity of Project SMILE, a preventive dental program largely funded by Appalachian Regional Commission grants. (SB)

Describes a two-year nursing program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Pennsylvania) that was developed 15 years ago to address the critical shortage of trained nurses in rural northern Pennsylvania. To date, the program has graduated 269 students, of which approximately 75% have taken jobs within the region. (LP)

Describes use in Appalachia of "Writing to Read," IBM-developed computer-assisted phonetic literacy program for first graders. Describes program's premise, history, and technology. Program uses phonetics, emphasizing student expression over spelling and punctuation. Describes establishment and use of literacy laboratories in West…

Under the Smart Start program, 19 of North Carolina's Appalachian counties have qualified for competitive state funding to improve community services to young children and their families. Programs tailored to local needs provide subsidized child care to children of working parents, preventive health screenings, literacy and high school equivalency…

Student health professionals, working as assistants to communities with serious health care problems, helped develop the Shuqualak health center in an area with the highest infant mortality rate in the United States. Describes the Community Technical Assistance Program and the history of the Shuqualak project. (SB)