Early Head Start is a comprehensive, two-generation federal initiative begun in 1995 aimed at enhancing the development of infants and toddlers while strengthening low-income families. This report contains information from the Survey of Early Head Start Programs. Beyond the need for an updated picture of the Early Head Start program, the Survey of…

Seventy-five families of children with special needs were interviewed after one year's experience with early intervention services and 69 of these families were then re-interviewed a year later after two years of such services. Five themes were identified in the families' views of "what works well." These were: (1) consistency of staff, (2) home…

This paper reports on the development of a set of four family outcomes concerned with the measurement of child growth and development as part of a 5-year project by the Early Childhood Research Institute on Measuring Growth and Development to develop a comprehensive assessment model for young children, birth to age 8, with disabilities. It first…

This paper describes the Starting Early Starting Smart (SESS) project, an early intervention program that has been developed in the context of the national, multi-site program and evaluation. The emphasis in SESS is on the integration of behavioral health services into easily accessible, non-threatening settings where caregivers naturally and…

Calling for a systematic reappraisal of the way children are prepared for school, a Committee for Economic Development report recommends the combination of a wide range of public and private resources that will address all aspects of children's early development and simultaneously improve the nation's public schools. (BB)

A study investigated why some of the low-income single caregivers of 104 children (ages 7-40 months) with disabilities were more involved in early intervention services than others. Difficulties in family functioning and lower levels of knowledge about child development were directly related to caregiver involvement. (Contains references.)…

Since 1982, the Ounce of Prevention Fund's network of Parents Too Soon (PTS) programs for teen parents throughout Illinois has supported communities, programs, and families through a mix of mechanisms: funding, program development, extensive training and support, and public policy advocacy. This article describes a qualitative view of how…

This compilation of extensive facts and figures on topics pertaining to America's children and families is a ready reference for journalists, advocates, and others who need easy access to data on conditions and trends. The book's first nine chapters are: (1) "The Changing American Family"; (2) "Children's Growth and…

Noting that communities and states all across America are working to achieve the first National Education Goal--by the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn--this paper provides information on efforts to meet that goal. The first portion of the paper presents a definition of readiness to learn devised by the Education…

This theme issue of the Bernard van Leer Foundation's "Newsletter" is devoted to approaches to working with disadvantaged children up to 3 years of age. An introduction describes the crucial period from before birth to 3 years, noting that although the mother's body provides the an essential part of the environment, other easily…

This publication, third in a biennial series of reports, focuses on the status of children, youth and families in 1979. Chapter I discusses historical and current demographic and economic trends that have occurred in the characteristics and circumstances of the United States population. Chapter II attempts to capture the factor of time in human…

One of five individualized courses included in a parent involvement curriculum, this course covers physical, mental, social-emotional development of children ages five through thirteen, feelings of security and adequacy, understanding of self and others, and self-discipline. The course is comprised of two units: (1) Middle Childhood and (2) Later…

This report analyzes early childhood research activities supported by the Interagency Panel on Early Childhood Research and Development during the 1974 fiscal year, and identifies trends and shifts in the agencies' research plans. The report is composed of five chapters which contain the following: (1) information about the historical background,…

This document is comprised of the proceedings from the first Central and Eastern European Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) meeting in Budapest, Hungary, October 24-28, 1999, convened to begin the development of an ECCD network in the region to address the similar needs and concerns of children in these countries. Following an…

Describes PACT (Parents and Children Together), a project designed to help parents create a wholesome environment for the child so that the child can remain in or be returned to the home. Failing this, PACT offers documentation to the social service agency so that the child can be permanently placed. (CT)