This document presents an outline of a number of social, economic, and demographic trends that influence the effectiveness of instruction and the social development of youth across the country. It contains numbers and statistics, recommendations, and implications, along with 30 references. The document covers trends in the following areas: (1)…

This report highlights issues for policymakers and provides guidance to states and localities implementing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) by describing the successes and struggles of five cities implementing the new legislation. It presents WIA's basic framework and discusses its impact on these four major audiences: employment and…

Focuses on the impact of weak labor force attachment on grade retention by the ninth grade among urban black children. Suggests that higher risks of grade retention are associated with welfare dependency only when income is obtained from welfare alone and receipt of welfare is persistent. (MJP)

Illustrates how poor women were able to move out of poverty and dehumanization through a process of mobilization and organization. The process was catalyzed by the intervention of a non-governmental organization, the Working Women's Forum. Outlines the Forum's program of economic, social, and technological empowerment. (MJP)

Maintains that providing justice to people accused of a crime has evolved slowly over the centuries. Discusses the history of indigent defense in the United States. Includes vocabulary terms, a timeline, a list of "Heroes of Indigent Defense," reviews of significant court cases, and a discussion of legal services in five cities. (CFR)

Presents the history and activities of the Legal Aid Society of New York City, the largest and oldest provider of legal assistance for poor people in the United States. Presents a timeline of the society and suggested instructional activities. Provides an annotated list of six resource organizations. (CFR)

Investigates the many factors pertaining to low voter turnout. Lack of education, poverty, and apathy contribute strongly to diminished voter participation. Language difficulties, a highly mobile society, and the discouraging effects of polls also contribute. Notes the positive correlation between voter registration and participation. (MJP)

In 1988, the California legislature provided funding for development of two Middle College High School (MCHS) projects, one at Contra Costa College (CCC), and another one at Los Angeles Southwest College (LASC). The MCHS is a high school program on a college campus designed to meet the needs of high risk urban youth with college potential. Through…

A product of the South Asian Regional Workshop of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD), this report was intended to identify problems of low-income families in South Asia and create methods to serve their needs. The report begins with an introduction to the India chapter of the ISSBD; it then provides an…

The experience of homelessness places great stress on families. Homeless parents in a shelter deal with various stressors in addition to homelessness, causing difficulties in dealing with their children and in developing parenting skills. This report describes a program designed for homeless parents of preschool children temporarily living in a…

This Kids Count fact book describes services that are designed to protect the health, education, and safety of children in each county in Texas. It begins with a brief overview of each service program, describing the services, giving eligibility requirements, and analyzing regional differences in service provision across the state. The overview is…

This Michigan Kids Count data book for 1995 describes the condition of children in each of Michigan's 83 counties. The first part of the report explores the status of the children in five areas of child well-being: (1) Economic Security; (2) Child Health; (3) Child Safety; (4) Teens at Risk; and (5) Education. The discussion presents an overview…

This factbook presents statistics and examines trends for nine indicators of children's well-being in Georgia. The indicators are: (1) number and percent of low birthweight infants; (2) infant death rate; (3) death rate of children ages 1 to 14 years; (4) violent death rate of teenagers aged 15 to 19 years; (5) rate of child abuse and neglect; (6)…

Studies indicate that arts education improves math learning in early elementary years, promotes significant cognitive gains, supports discovery, and builds knowledge. This conference paper indicates the importance of the arts in early education curriculum and provides an innovative way for teachers to bring constructivism into the classroom. It…

A project proposed to demonstrate an effective delivery system for providing family literacy services to homeless parents of young children by taking the "Read Me a Story" program directly into bridge housing sites where the families resided. The approach offered was the direct parent/indirect child model. The curriculum came from…