The GOAL ONE Project of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is designed to ensure that children have access to an environment that provides a foundation for school success. GOAL ONE is a national project involving model, community-based, collaborative programs that provide a nurturing environment for children whose…

This report focuses on positive practices in providing support services to families of children with severe disabilities and chronic illnesses, based on visits to three sites in Maryland: the Family Support Program at the Kennedy Institute in Baltimore, the Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, and Sick Kids Need Involved People (SKIP).…

Home based family centered (HBFC) service programs have been developed as alternatives to out-of-home placement. These programs have reported relatively high service success rates at costs signficantly lower than foster home and institutional care while, at the same time, avoiding the social and psychological risks of out-of-home placement.…

The report presents findings from a survey of 243 caregiving families in Massachusetts which explored family needs and characteristics, as well as those of their developmentally disabled family members. Survey questions focused on family information, characteristics of the disabled family member, information on family needs, care-related costs…

The Family Support Project in Lansing, Michigan, provides a variety of family support services to help maintain severely mentally and severely multiply impaired children in their own communities, and whenever possible, in their own homes. Services offered include case management, family therapy, respite services, special needs purchases,…

This report presents an evaluation of the Intensive Services Project in Lincoln and McCook, Nebraska, which was designed to demonstrate that caseworkers with smaller child protective caseloads could offer more effective home-based services. The background of the project is described focusing on staffing and service setting. Service principles and…

The position paper of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD) examines issues in identification and intervention with regard to preschool learning disabled children. Identification issues cluster around at-risk indicators, the importance of systematic observations, and the use of screening instruments and procedures such as…

Draws on interviews with children, birth parents, foster carers, and social workers to explore some of the benefits and pitfalls of foster care. Interview respondents asserted that, in retrospect, coming into care was the best solution to their situation, favored maintaining ties and involvement with birth families, and children often had a…

Described is the Ninos Especiales Program, a 3-year demonstration project in Hartford, Connecticut, which provided culturally sensitive early intervention services to 34 infants with severe disabilities and their families of Puerto Rican heritage. Included is information on program philosophy, services, evaluation, and participating families.…

This paper describes an early intervention model demonstration project providing center- and home-based instruction to children with severe/profound handicaps, aged birth to three years, and their parents. The social reciprocity model used, participating children, daily activities, and evaluative findings are discussed. (Author/PB)

Describes a collaborative program undertaken by a Massachusetts district to enhance preschool students' learning readiness when entering kindergarten. The program consisted of three elements: networking local and area programs and services; improving the quality of programs and services; and increasing access to family services. (11 references)…

A study explored the orientation of 32 Finnish professionals in child neurological units toward child assessment and planning. Results indicate that practices were not implemented consistently and that professionals' varying perceptions of the concept of comprehensiveness and family involvement interfered with implementation of guidelines for…

This report to the Minnesota state legislature describes the status of the local children's mental health collaboratives. These mental health collaboratives were established in response to the fragmented service delivery system. Counties, school districts, and local mental health entities became partners with public health, juvenile corrections,…

This monograph represents the collective thinking of parents of children with special health needs, family members, and professionals concerning what is necessary and important in collaborative relationships. Collaboration is viewed as a way to improve quality of life and health of children and their families, by working together to humanize the…

This fourth document in the Education and Human Services Consortium's Series on Collaboration puts current efforts to create comprehensive and coordinated child and family-serving systems in a 30-year context of related endeavors. Starting from the premise that thinking about ways to structure and improve human services has been clouded by decades…