A series of eight videoconferences was designed to help educational professionals improve schools by applying knowledge gained from research. During the videoconference programs, which are transmitted by satellite to facilities with receiving capacity, viewers can interact by telephone with the program presenters. Each program covers a specific…

Homelessness is a troubling social problem, challenging to the best public and private efforts to provide some measure of remedy. For one group of the homeless, those with severe and persistent mental illness, that challenge is doubled: homelessness complicates the treatment of mental illness, even as mental illness complicates efforts to…

StarServe is a national, non-profit organization that provides materials, resources, and ongoing assistance free to teachers and administrators to make community service part of a class or school-wide activity. StarServe utilizes celebrities to bring the message to students: "You can be a star through service to others." This StarServe…

This issue brief explores the problem of child pornography and teenage prostitution and examines some of the strategies federal, state, and local governments employ to address these social problems. After a brief review of Congressional actions and Supreme Court decisions, state statutes affecting pornography and prostitution are reviewed, and…

Community colleges--with their link between culture and community--are natural places for citizen involvement in the American Bicentennial celebration. Activities already undertaken by some junior colleges include the recording of local histories, workshops for teachers, art shows, readers' theaters, and folk science lectures. (Author/NHM)

This paper describes a grassroots effort by one mid-sized midwestern community which led to the development of a voluntary cooperative network of community service providers offering court-referred divorce mediation services to highly conflicted divorcing families. Issues addressed in this paper are: (1) the difference between a court-referred…

This booklet identifies four critical areas for alcohol and drug abuse prevention strategies: communities, parents and families, schools, and the workplace. Under each area, specific ideas for action and pertinent resource materials are described. The community strategies described include youth organizations, policies and laws, counseling, the…

Profiled are 5 child care centers, 5 child care systems, 2 cities, 1 community, 1 county, and 6 states and provinces that have developed new policies aimed at improving the compensation of staff in child care occupations. Examples describe how salary initiatives at different levels got started, what barriers were overcome, and what was…

Community based instruction for severely handicapped students is a central way of enhancing independent living skills in the student's natural environment. Teaching skills in the settings in which students will be required to use them helps to facilitate the development of both skill acquisition and skill generalization. On-site instruction…

These hearings address the Community and Family Living Amendments of 1983, which would phase out Medicaid reimbursement to large institutions serving the mentally retarded and redirect it to small community-based settings. Testimony and written statements regarding such a shift are presented from representatives of health and welfare associations,…

The workbook is intended as a primer for public and private sector state level advocates for children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. It is designed to give practical guidance on how to intervene effectively in the legislative and executive appropriation and budget processes. The first section examines the role of the partners-in-power:…

The document is intended to help states and local communities locate resources to support children and adults with extensive health needs in the community. An overview article, titled "Supporting People with Medical and Physical Needs in the Community," by Bonnie Shoultz and Julie Ann Racino, identifies principles for community…

The concept of wellness is defined and the importance of establishing a healthy lifestyle is discussed. A description is given of the Rochester Institute of Technology Wellness Program, which is typical of the many current programs covering varying aspects of wellness. These programs are offered by private agencies, educational institutions, and…

The paper reviews a community-oriented behavioral approach to vocational training and suggests behaviors to be acquired before handicapped students leave the public schools. The initial survey of the community is designed to identify possible community job placements and determine relevant vocational behaviors within each of the jobs. Survey…

The proceedings of this 1984 hearing presents recommendations to improve services for mentally retarded citizens. A report on conditions in intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded is followed by statements of Senators L. Weicker, Jr., J. Randolph, and R. Stafford and by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human…