In a community capacity building project, family and consumer sciences professionals developed a family resource center to provide programs and services to strengthen families. The project exemplifies the civic engagement role of the profession. (SK)

The family dimensions of 24 Individualized Family Service Plans written for infants/toddlers with handicaps and their families were examined to determine the presence of key legislative requirements, the domains of family goals, structural dimensions, level of parent involvement, and time parameters for goal attainment. Issues surrounding family…

The article describes the Family Support Institute in British Columbia which provides families of mentally handicapped persons with information (parent to parent contact, written articles, video and cassette tapes and a newsletter), workshops, and networking. (DB)

Describes the physical and developmental disability services of the Early Intervention Program, a therapeutic-educational program for parents and children from birth to 3 years who are "at risk" delayed or handicapped. Describes the facilities and the assessment, therapy, education, planning, and evaluation components. (RJC)

Investigates toy libraries in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland. Community toy libraries provide a place where parents and caretakers can congregrate and children's learning can be facilitated through imitation and stimulation. (RJC)

Presents results of a study comparing attitudes of important groups toward national personal social services policy. Furnishes preliminary data concerning types of individuals who would support a national personal social services policy. (SAK)

Provides overview, background, vision, and goals of a report from the Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala pledged to use the guidelines presented to help establish "Early Head Start," a new support and services program for families with…

Describes the latest research finding from an evaluation of the Homebuilders model of intensive family preservation services in Washington and Utah. Treatment success rates of the Homebuilders model matched or exceeded those of other programs. (GLR)

This paper discusses the development of an overall network of respite care services in the Federal Republic of Germany, the need for respite care services, efforts of a national organization called Lebenshilfe, evolution of the concept of respite care, and future tasks. (Author/JDD)

Best preschool programs provide both developmentally appropriate curricula and school-based family support services. This article describes four exemplary, innovative, and low-cost early education programs in Kentucky, Colorado, Iowa, and Florida that integrate family support, day care, and health and social services. These districts had visionary…

Service-utilization data for 133 infants and toddlers with developmental delays were gathered over four months. For each service encounter, the duration, location, and type of service, was recorded. Findings revealed that families received an average of 1.7 hours per week of services. Thirty-four percent of services occurred in community-based…

Presents a comprehensive evaluation framework and applies it to a family empowerment program in Montana that was developed as an aspect of welfare reform. The framework encompasses seven areas from developing objectives to developing a sound conceptual framework. (SLD)

Surveyed caregivers of elementary students regarding demographics, smoking characteristics and attitudes, and receptivity to and preferred format for health promotion programs. Most smokers wanted to quit and did not want their children to smoke. Respondents considered it important to involve children in quit attempts and were willing to…

Discusses the need to examine effectiveness of services to children and families in central and eastern Europe, focusing on programs in Hungary. Notes that financial considerations and differences in objectives have increased the importance of outcomes measurement. Reports that the pilot implementation of "Looking After Children"…

The Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation is using about $2 million in federal grant money to spread a message to Indiana parents: Students in struggling public schools can seek free tutoring, find out about charter schools, or transfer to other public schools. The foundation is also taking part in a small, often overlooked federal program…