Park and recreation professionals are facing a dual challenge: to offer comprehensive recreation programs for all ages and income levels; and to establish trends, providing opportunities for development and assimilation of new skills and interests into the public's repertoire of leisure activities. (Author)

Five preparatory steps for the evaluation of community-based programs, described as "front-end" challenges, are discussed: (1) understanding the reasons for the evaluation; (2) securing resources; (3) establishing credibility and enthusiasm; (4) developing consensus about goals and objectives; and (5) observing and fine tuning the…

Offers advice on providing a successful leadership development program at community colleges: decide on the philosophy of leadership, develop a mission statement, identify resources, start small and do those things well, approach student organizations, and provide food. (EV)

The Cooperative Extension Service has a long history of providing community-based lifelong education. Current trends affecting extension programming include new telecommunications technologies, necessity for accountability, and demographic shifts. (SK)

Traces one program's history in facilitating grassroots community development. Focuses specifically on group methods by which indigenous peoples can carry out their own developments to relieve the effects of poverty. Discusses effective social, economic, and cultural development. (Author/NB)

Defines five elements needed in the construction of a sound theater program: curriculum, artistic quality, program participation, community and parental support, and administrative and faculty recognition. Discusses the importance of these elements. Concludes that, although implementing this program takes time, the effort is worth it. (PA)

Describes a continuing education module that addresses care in the community, influences on patients' experience, current social policy, and the role of the carer. The module is designed to help trained nurses integrate patient care from hospital to community setting. (SK)

Community agencies must first understand the cultures for which they are programing, critique their current endeavors for learning style and point of view, and plan for inclusion of the culture(s) of their constituencies. (SK)

Presents the steps necessary for creating a successful facility master plan, including the purpose and use of a steering committee and the need for a comprehensive database that includes a community/school profile. Explains community involvement in plan development, and outlines the steps necessary for preparing a final facility plan for…

Describes the "NU Directions" program of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1 of 10 programs administered by the American Medical Association to use campus-community coalitions and a comprehensive approach to crate change and reduce collegiate high-risk drinking. Discusses the challenges, benefits, and lessons learned in creating this…

This paper analyzes principles of knowledge diffusion and provides a framework for applying new ideas or innovations, particularly in relation to rural community development. As new knowledge is created or old knowledge is found to have new applications, the art of spreading knowledge and managing innovation has become more crucial in both urban…

The Adult Literacy and Evaluation Research Team (also known as Project ALERT) was a project conducted by the Detroit Literacy Coalition (DLC) at Wayne State University in 1993-1994 to develop and pilot a user-friendly program model for evaluating literacy operations of community-based organizations throughout Michigan under the provisions of…

In 1991, the Northwest Area Health Education Center in North Carolina conducted a needs assessment of area hospitals, revealing that Respiratory Care (RC) departments in Catawba and Alexander counties would require 29 technicians and therapists within 3 years. A survey of area high school students identified 44 students interested in RC. In…

This report describes the Promoting Success in Zero to Three Services Project, which focused on community-wide efforts in six communities to build systems to provide services for families with infants and toddlers. Part 1 analyzes issues confronted by community stakeholders in their 5-year effort to establish, improve, expand, or maintain services…

The Intermountain Community Learning and Information Services (ICLIS) project was begun in 1985 to provide rural communities in Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming with greater access to information and educational programming. Computer centers were housed in nine rural public libraries to provide services related to literacy, career guidance,…