The Maternal and Child Health Bureau launched the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative to promote the healthy development and school readiness of young children. This brief is a planning tool designed to assist states in conducting strategic planning throughout the initiative. It is organized into seven steps as…

The use of adventure programming with families has increased tremendously during the past 10 years. Like traditional adventure activities, adventure interventions with families have been well received for their capacity to fully engage participants in dynamic interactions that create therapeutic movement. These activities are especially powerful…

Examines the role extension programs can play in providing much-needed information and counseling to families in stress. (AN)

Presents an approach to the evaluation of family support programs that does not violate the principles of family support. Tailoring the evaluation to the program service philosophy ensures that the evaluation process is integrated with the program to provide a more accurate picture of the program. (SLD)

Explains intergenerational literacy, and provides responses from two educators who offer their perspectives and suggestions on intergenerational literacy programs. (MG)

Results of a survey of 2,800 parents of children with disabilities found that families are essentially pleased with their respite services, but are dissatisfied with the services' lack of flexibility, arbitrary limits on use, inability to respond to crises, lack of parental voice in forming or reforming services, etc. (JDD)

In February 1993, the Head Start Reauthorization Act was introduced into Congress. The act proposes to expand and improve Head Start. Head Start operators would be required to provide family literacy services, either directly or through other community providers. The bill also provides for Head Start-like services to pregnant women and children…

At the 1991 PTA convention, the delegates called for developing a comprehensive parent involvement program in every elementary school. Local PTAs could explore and implement the school-as-community philosophy by selecting appropriate programs and activities, such as Parents in Partnership, Megaskills Workshops, Alliance for Achievement Model,…

An interview with a recent "graduate" shows how the principle of unconditional care-consistent support through any circumstances-has built new lives and renewed hope for participants in Chicago's Kaleidoscope Project. (Author)

Reviews the development of family psychology and family therapy in Japan, tracing the origins of these movements, explaining how these fields were activated by the problem of school refusal, and describing an approach to family therapy that has been developed to work with families confronting this problem, as well as preventive programs of family…

Describes the use of transformative learning theory to evaluate a family-empowerment project focusing on life skills (N=34). Results reveal evidence of transformative learning outcomes such as an empowered sense of self and new connections with others. Participants also spoke of factors built into the program designed to foster transformative…

Responses from 4,956 extension personnel examined the Cooperative Extension System's ability to serve diverse audiences on cultural, structural, and behavioral factors influencing organizational change. Results show that Extension is fairly active in incorporating diversity in work with children, youth, and families. (Contains 18 references.)…

In evaluating family preservation services, it is important not only to study the service outcomes and the family characteristics, but also what actually happens during the treatment. This requires a program model. This article describes how a program model works, prescribes how workers should carry it out, and describes how researchers should…

The purpose of this report is to listen to families about "what" mattered most to them and "how" family support has impacted their lives. The findings of this report represent a synthesis of families' voices from 8 focus groups and 35 individual interviews, conducted at centers, office meetings, and homes--with over 100 family…

This article reviews federal policy affecting families who have children or adult members with disabilities, particularly but not exclusively developmental disabilities. It reviews the federal statutes and family-and-disability related decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and the other courts. It then reviews the research on current family support…