The state of the arts paper on completed and ongoing research in parent education is based on a review of the literature of recent studies, including current federally funded research on mainstream and economically deprived families, but not studies dealing with the physically handicapped, retarded, psychotic, or foster children. The projects are…

A persistent problem in language skills programs for children is how to promote generalization so the child can use communication skills in almost any situation. Consideration of the manner in which stimuli are presented, the kinds of responses required, and the way reinforcement is dispensed may help to solve the difficulty in moving from…

This training guide is intended to help Head Start staff develop the essential partnership-building skills that contribute to Head Start's overall effectiveness as a supportive, family-centered community. Each of the guide's three modules details module outcomes, key concepts, and background information. Module 1 defines family support in terms of…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of the Portage Outreach Project, an early intervention project designed to meet the varied needs of state and local agencies around the country through the provision of highly acclaimed training addressing provision of early intervention services from an ecological perspective. The purpose of…

Information on family context was used to individualized behavioral support plans designed to support family use of functional communication training (FCT) for three children (ages 3-5) with autism. Results indicate problem behavior decreased and functional communication increased when FCT was introduced into family routines selected for training.…

This is a report on the research evaluation of an educational program for very young children initiated under the conviction that adult illiteracy might be prevented through intervention into the "cycle of poverty." The method of intervention was to provide a group of preschool children from public assistance families with a training…

This paper provides a conceptual model of the language learning environment of young children, incorporating child engagement with the physical environment, contributions of child and caregiver, and caregiver mediation of physical environment. A case study illustrates the impact of a relatively simple home environmental intervention on a…

Intended for use in training staff concerned with building bridges between the family learning environment and Head Start, this guide broadens the idea of "parents as teachers" beyond the instructional role parents play, by looking at the entire family learning environment. Following an introductory section, the guide presents four…

This guide offers Head Start staff training in how to prevent, or identify and respond to family crises in ways that can build resiliency in families. Following an introductory section, the guide presents four training modules. Each module details expected outcomes, key concepts, background information, learning activities, and next steps.…

The goals of this practicum were to: (1) create more suitable and stimulating structured environments that would engage severely/profoundly handicapped children in positive play situations in the classroom and in the home, and (2) teach parents and caregivers how to identify age appropriate and developmentally appropriate playthings. Inservice…

Noting that developing a Head Start family partnership is an ongoing process that begins at enrollment and continues through transition out of the program, this guide for directors and staff looks at the process of developing such partnerships and provides the skills and information needed to form meaningful partnerships. Following an introductory…

The objectives of a university training program for rural social workers are to develop insights into cultural and stereotypical attitudes of social workers and to increase worker cultural sensitivity and awareness of value differences. The focus of the training is on the process by which workers evaluate extrinsic and intrinsic factors related to…

This report discusses the activities and outcomes of Project Coach Outreach, a project to encourage the use of best practices in early intervention for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and to increase family-centered service options in Mississippi. Specifically, the project focused on the use of natural environments to include…