The Global Research Agenda for Children with Disabilities (the Research Agenda) is a strategic framework that identifies priority research areas -- defined through a global research prioritization exercise -- to close critical evidence gaps, inform inclusive policies and programmes, and guide effective investments that support children with…

This paper examines a case study of a community-university collaboration in a Midwestern suburban community. In an effort to promote the well-being of students, a collaborative youth initiative partnership was created alongside a local university, public schools, and other community organizations. We reflect upon this collaboration and the need…

A powerful and eulogistic narrative has evolved around the Venezuelan National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras, better known as El Sistema. Recently, however, critical perspectives have begun to emerge from the academic sphere. Nevertheless, researchers have faced an acute shortage of documentary resources relating to the programme's…

Child Trends conducted a random assignment evaluation of the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors program, one of the largest programs in the United States working with low-income Latino parents of children ages zero to five. Since it began in 2007, the program has served over 30,000 parents/families in 34 states. The evaluation study examined the…

A quality improvement system (QIS) is an intentional effort to raise the quality of afterschool programming in an ongoing, organized fashion. There are a number of reasons the QIS is gaining popularity. The main reasons community leaders are drawn to improving quality is that they know that 1) higher quality programs will mean better experiences…

A comprehensive review of structured family support programs in children's mental health was conducted in collaboration with leadership from key national family organizations. The goals were to identify typologies of family support services for which evaluation data existed and identify research gaps. Over 200 programs were examined; 50 met…

This annual report describes the information, technical assistance, and support the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) has provided during 1996. The report also describes the legislative agenda pursued as well as the cooperative projects engaged in. The first section of the report, "Stand Follow-up Action," describes the Stand for Children…

This 25th anniversary annual report of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) describes the work the organization has done to advocate for and educate the United States about the needs of children. The report begins by identifying the CDF's Board of Directors, Fund Management Team, dedication message from the CDF's current president, and the…

The development of standardized performance measurements, the widespread use of such measures in Medicaid, and the planned uses of such measures in the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide significant opportunities for child advocates to improve child health services. This issue brief describes the growth of managed care organizations,…

"Count Us In: Improving the education of our looked after children" is the latest publication in the series "Count Us In," which deals with different aspects of inclusive education. The report aims to help local authorities and partner agencies to improve outcomes for looked after children. Local authorities have been working…

This document is comprised of two papers providing resources for after-school programs and additional information available from the Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP). The first paper, "Organizations in Out-of-School Time: An Introduction," reviews the national, state, and local organizations active in the field of out-of-school time, grouped…

Health problems impede the academic performance of 12 percent of students. Schools are in a unique position to help their state's Medicaid and children's health insurance programs connect with parents who lack health insurance for their children. This booklet provides suggestions to help school staff identify, inform, and help to enroll families…

Safeguarders are persons with a relevant professional background who may be appointed by child welfare authorities when required to safeguard the interests of the child in the proceedings. Safeguarders offer support and advice, and provide written reports for children's hearings and sometimes for court cases. This study evaluated the use and…

Noting that child advocates are increasingly implementing monitoring projects to track the status of former welfare families and are using the findings to inform their agendas, policymakers, and the general public, this issue brief introduces monitoring strategies and suggests issues for consideration in designing a monitoring project. Monitoring,…

This report assesses federal efforts to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) during its first four years as law. The report begins by describing the politics and the players in the passage and implementation of the ADA and then discusses how technical assistance precedes enforcement of ADA. Complaints filed under the ADA and the…