Fundamental changes in family life in recent decades have raised parental and familial stress to unprecedented levels. The result is increasing isolation and frustration among families, placing them at risk for a wide range of social problems. Public and private institutions have been slow to respond to the changes in family life, to the needs…

The abstracts in this publication describe 29 federally and privately funded family literacy projects in the United States. Each entry provides the name of the project, background information, project aims, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of contact persons. (RH)

This guide reviews resources local officials can use to improve institutional services for children and families, and offers procedural advice. Chapter 1 examines the role of municipal government in providing human services and identifies two roles local government has in delivering these services: broker and administrator. Chapter 2 examines…

The authors describe the development and implementation in British schools of their family history project. The student and his social setting, the childhood of his parents and grandparents, and the methods of the historian are combined for effective course content. (DE)

A review of literature was conducted in order to: (1) determine whether factors placing the young child at risk for school failure can be identified; (2) determine whether early family interventions and early childhood programs are effective; and (3) identify policy implications. Findings are summarized, and recommendations are offered. Research…

At a time when many families across all income levels are experiencing greater stress and when child poverty is at record levels, the school cannot function as an isolated institution. Instead, public education has been thrust into the more responsible position of helping young needy families achieve self-sufficiency. There is a pressing need for…

This report describes a pilot study to determine the needs of formerly homeless families in New York City and to help them make the transition from welfare hotels and shelters into new homes and to become stable and permanent residents of their communities. Three New York social services agencies assigned one or two caseworkers to nine homeless…

This manual introduces the topic of family literacy programs in libraries and provides guidelines for libraries that are just getting started in family literacy programs as well as libraries that are further developing their existing programs. It is argued that illiteracy tends to be both intergenerational and cyclic, i.e., if a child's parents…

The purpose of this paper is to summarize current trends in child abuse prevention and to provide program administrators and policymakers with guidelines for implementing successful new parent programs in their communities. Contents address: (1) the scope of the child abuse problem; (2) a theoretical framework or conceptual model for use in…

This conference report on the Library Services and Construction Act Amendments of 1990 includes the text of a substitute amendment agreed to by a committee of House of Representatives and Senate members. Amendments are presented for the following sections of the act: (1) Short Title; References; (2) Definitions; (3) Authorization of…

Offering a discussion for administrators and practitioners serving disabled and at-risk infants, toddlers, and their families, these three addresses explore issues, strategies, and models of program evaluation. "Major Issues in Program Evaluation," by Kathryn Barnard, discusses the purpose of, process of, and ways of doing program…

A preliminary study of homeless children and their families served by Travellers Aid agencies attempted to obtain basic information about them, and to test the methodology for use in future studies on this topic. Two data collection instruments were developed, one for use with families, the other for single persons. Agency staff completed study…

The Hunger Relief Act of 1986 shows the broad concern in Congress and among the American people for the elimination of hunger and malnutrition in America. Four Congressional committees participated in advancing this legislation, which provides a 12-point plan for improving the nutrition programs serving low-income Americans. The committees heard…

In these proceedings of a May 1981 symposium, the origins of the New Right and its efforts to capture the "pro-family" label for itself are explored. Also addressed is the question of why there are two opposing children's lobbies, one conservative and one more liberal. Special emphasis was placed on the Family Protection Act and on…

Devoted to the second-year evaluation of the Parent-to-Parent Dissemination Project, this report describes the progress in the project's five sites: Dayton, Ohio; Ypsilanti, Michigan; the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont; Mankato, Minnesota; and Toledo, Ohio. Each site is described in terms of the number of families being served, the number of…