Describes one middle school's two-week end-of-school-year unit called Community Studies, in which students select several activities (from more than 40, many of them outdoors), which are assessed through portfolios. (SR)

Compared two programs in England with regard to their roles in stimulating effective school improvement: the Local Education Authority in Birmingham and a university-inspired improvement project. Visits to 10 primary and secondary schools revealed factors that promote and discourage the capacity to change. (SLD)

Describes the El Portal Latino Alzheimer's Project--a dementia-specific outreach and services program targeting Latino caregivers in the Los Angeles area. Results of an evaluation of service utilization indicate a reduction in barriers to care and an increase in services utilization. Implications for social work practice are discussed. (Contains…

Used qualitative methods to describe beliefs and attitudes related to evaluation and to identify factors influencing evaluation capacity, based on interviews with 61 community-based organizations, 9 health departments, and 28 technical assistance providers. Identified four factors influencing evaluation behavior, and developed a model describing…

This article describes the Community Service Program (CSP) established in 1998 by the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. The CSP, which consists of a team of professional service providers, provides rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility services, and job development services, and help in accessing…

Local interest and community groups in the northwest of England collaborated on a project titled Communities in Crisis, which is designed to encourage community leaders and volunteers to reflect upon their experiences and share ideas. (JOW)

Describes a "Volunteer Reader" project in which volunteers from the community read and respond to student essays. Lists typical questions and answers that address the logistics of the project. Notes that the project has spread to the district level. (RS)

Presents the Pennsylvania State Coalition for Adult Literacy as a model for understanding state and local literacy coalitions. Cites elements of success in coalition building: trust, a sense of mission, strong leadership, and clear identification of the target populations of each member agency. (SK)

Describes a school-based community intervention program led by the school counselor to address the issue of adolescent suicide. Explains how program uses content consultative approach to create a network between school and community resources and emphasizes the prevention and intervention of suicide and associated risk factors. (NB)

The study compared attitudes of 50 subjects on mental health policy when presented with vignettes expressed in "community care" terms or matched alternatives. The "community care" linguistic construction resulted in more favorable policy ratings and estimates of integration of the handicapped. Findings suggest linguistic framing may be important…

The social interaction patterns of 23 adults with severe disabilities, residents of community-based programs, were analyzed across a 30-month time period. Analysis focused on number of different companions, rate of social interactions, durability of social relationships, and number of new companions met during the last year of the study.…

Since 1974, Paiute, Wasco, and Warm Springs leaders have invested over $850,000 to purchase more than 2,000 artifacts and 2,500 archival photographs and documents for a museum. Addresses the relevance of preserving cultural artifacts, the importance of finding young apprentices to carry on crafts, and the significance of preserving native…

A Wisconsin school district has strengthened community education by developing animal welfare and entrepreneurial programs. These and other programs are part of School-Connections, a project of the Institute for Responsive Education. Students work with adult advisers on individually tailored projects, gain real-world experience, and make genuine…

This paper discusses a model crisis intervention program for community-based individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness, featuring cross-system access between existing services and emphasis on staff training. Outcomes of the Rochester, New York, program reveal that 69% of 267 individuals referred to the program required only 1…

Benefits to the helper are important to consider in a national-service program, along with the benefits to the recipient. Some suggestions are offered to ensure reciprocity in community service. Democratizing help giving, that is making it available to the widest possible audience, could help remove some of the pitfalls associated with help…