Contends that major struggle remains to reduce military budget and to secure those funds for civilian purposes and that social workers have major stake in the outcome. Analyzes realities of post-cold war era, identifies what has and has not been changed by Operation Desert Storm, and discusses ways social workers can contribute to political…

Presents the factors used to determine whether a particular use of a copyrighted work is fair use; considers the re-evaluation of fair use forced by the NII (National Information Infrastructure); and discusses universal service (i.e., access to telecommunications service for everyone) and the universal service fund. (MES)

Describes the 1998 Panasonic Academic Challenge including the configuration of the competition, source of questions, use of technology during the competition, and prizes for the winners. (DDR)

Describes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Program in Self-Determination, a program facilitating change through the support of "learning community" grants to self-advocacy organizations and others. Local implementation is demonstrating creativity in establishing new tools of self-directed management of resources, listening to…

Outlines the process by which the government of Alberta (Canada) has compelled educational institutions to accept the introduction of a performance-based funding mechanism in spite of the substantial loss of autonomy the new process entails. Implications of the change are explored, and reasons for it are suggested. (Author/SLD)

In Jamaica, people most likely to be affected by environmental degradation are less likely to be involved in environmental nongovernmental organizations and community-based conservation projects. Funders, practitioners, and policy makers should work to remove barriers to participation and ensure equitable allocation of funding. (SK)

Reports on a study of schools that have developed their own drug-abuse prevention curriculum. In general, the process that local schools use is characterized by high levels of involvement by a variety of personnel, low levels of training, little use of resources outside the school corporation, poor training of teachers who will be implementing the…

Studied the effects of poor school funding and child poverty on mathematics achievement in U.S. schools using data from the Second International Mathematics Study. Results suggest the substantial and statistically significant net effects on mathematics achievement of level of school funding and child poverty. (SLD)

Describes how Harvard University exceeded its goals in its recently completed five-year fund-raising campaign. Notes emphasis on appeals based on societal problems and teamwork by the institution's various colleges. Includes a table comparing 21 recent or ongoing billion-dollar capital campaigns. (DB)

Explains why tribal education is essential and how private funding makes it possible. Discusses the poor funding of tribal colleges and the history of American Indian education, and also offers examples of American Indian students in urban areas who return to tribal schools to learn about their cultural, linguistic, and spiritual heritage. (DB)

Examines the growing trend of professional black athletes to include institutions of higher education in their charitable giving. Examines motivations for giving (such as honoring a loved one), examples of gifts by prominent athletes, the appeal for postsecondary giving, and giving by athletes who failed to graduates. (DB)

Reports that American colleges and universities raised an estimated $20.4 billion in private gifts in the 1998-99 academic year, an increase of 10.9 percent over the previous year. Provides data on total gifts by type of institution and lists the top 20 institutions in total giving, in alumni giving, in giving from non-alumni individuals, and in…

Uses a systems approach to reframe welfare assistance as well-being for the many, not welfare for the few. The framework outlines the state of family economic functioning (crisis, at risk, safe, thriving), type of welfare assistance (entitlement, subsidy, self-sufficiency, sustainability), poverty levels (below, at, 150%, 200%), and supports…

This New Zealand study investigated employment attitudes and their relationship to mental health of 137 long-term unemployed people with disabilities. Results suggested that level of income support was not related to employment attitudes. People receiving the invalid's benefit had high levels of work commitment in contrast to those receiving…

The Rural Elderly Enhancement Project, in which a nursing school development a model of community participation and involvement, was evaluated through interviews with 73 community members. Many projects designed to foster community competence in elder care and youth/school-based health have been sustained. (SK)