The handbook describes the Home Start Training Center's approach to serving Head Start families. Much of the program is focused on the Portage Project and on early intervention efforts for preschoolers. The first of the major parts of the handbook presents an overview of the approach, reviewing the philosophy of parent-focused home-based…

Describes various types of home-based programs for young retarded or severely handicapped children, identifying key elements and benefits. Model programs involve home visits, parent group meetings, workshops and combinations of these with preschool experience or group care, as well as a variety of other techniques. (BF)

Home visiting is a way of providing services to children and families. Based on the experiences of home visitors in Vermont, this booklet discusses promising home visiting practices. Following a preface and introduction, the book's sections are: (1) "The Home Visiting Relationship"; (2) "The Home Visit: Essential Components";…

Describes an intervention package for suicidal children and adolescents, the structure and content of which is based on insights gained from previous research studies and extensive clinical practice. Essential features of the package, which is currently the focus of a major controlled evaluative study, are that it is short-term, focused,…

The paper analyzes the significance of parents' play routines as an aspect of home intervention programing of play behaviors with developmentally delayed young children. Three sources of child development research are noted: the studies demonstrating a rationale for parent-child play, emphasis on the early aspect of intervention, and the use of…

The final report describes the development of a program to train neighborhood mothers as home visitors to families with a handicapped child under age 3. The following program aspects are detailed (sample subtopics in parentheses): population (referral sources, family and child characteristics); staff (changes in staffing pattern, hiring core…

The manual is intended to help home visitors, teachers, handicapped coordinators, parents, and others who work with young handicapped children in home based programs and to supplement training provided by the Home Start Training Centers. The manual contains 10 author contributed chapters. An introductory chapter by R. Boyd briefly considers…

Tested the effectiveness of intensive, in-home family reunification services in reunifying families separated by the placement of a child in out-of-home care. After 90 days, 93% of the families assigned to receive the intensive treatment were reunited, compared to 28% of families in a control group who received routine out-of-home care services.…

Emphasizes the importance of home visits and provides tips on making Head Start program home visits rewarding for parents and children. Lists 11 behaviors of effective home visitors, and emphasizes the importance of empowering parents and creating adequate documentary materials concerning the home visit. (SD)

The purpose of this study was to gather information about the different types of home visiting services provided to families of at-risk children, with a special emphasis on the home visiting option within the Head Start program. A 13-page questionnaire was sent to 4,162 organizations nationwide that operated home visiting programs. Responses were…

It is argued that health-oriented home visiting programs during pregnancy and the postpartum period can be an important element in a comprehensive maternal and child health package. This discussion, which draws on the experience of a group of demonstration home visiting programs sponsored by the Ford Foundation's Child Survival/Fair Start…

This paper describes the Intergenerational Program, a high school volunteer program which matches students with older adults who receive help and companionship through the Independent Aging Program (San Jose, California). The history of the student program is reviewed, and the steps involved in establishing the program are outlined. Recruitment of…

This field procedures manual for community interviewers and site coordinators, one of a series of documents on the evaluation of the National Home Start program (NHS), describes specific testing procedures for collecting family data. A federally funded demonstration program, NHS is aimed at providing home-based services (such as health, education,…

The checklist and manual are designed to measure changes in parental skills as a result of both group and individualized programing in a home based prescriptive infant program. Guidelines are also given on setting behavioral goals for parents that can be addressed by program activities. The inventory is divided into seven skill areas: parental…

This report describes the 1977 activities of the Marketable Preschool Education (MPE) Program conducted by the Appalachia Educational Laboratory. The report describes both completed activities and those in progress at the end of 1977. The following activities are described: (1) the final preparation of the Home Visitor Training Package for…