Discusses the impact of public opinion on government decision-making, and develops a model that describes how certain input or control factors can combine to produce discontinuous or divergent policy decisions. Available from: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Box 211, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, single copies available. (Author/JG)

Emphasizes the history of educational planning in the United States and draws implications from that history. (IRT)

Retention and creation of jobs is vital for the economic health of the nation. Union action, especially at the state and local level, can push policymakers toward high-road development strategies. (JOW)

Meta-analysis, one strategy nurses can use to influence public policy in health care, can amplify effects too small to observe in single or small studies, bring cost data to the fore, and highlight ramifications of local interest to policy- makers. (SK)

Fundamental features of excellent women's health care are as follows: awareness of women's lives and diversity, comprehensive life-span care, a range of services and providers, and accessibility. Policy recommendations include not limiting health care benefits to employment, focus on prevention and promotion, and expansion of advanced practice…

Family and consumer science professionals have an obligation to influence policy that affects the quality of family life. They should develop deeper understanding of why policies sometimes have unintended consequences and should conduct family impact analyses and assessment statements that can heighten the awareness of policymakers. (SK)

Assesses the importance of rate-of-return (RoR) analysis for planning and policy making in higher education. Reviews methods used and discusses criticisms against RoR in relation to the screening function of education, the measurement of educational costs and benefits, and the pure effect of education on earnings. Recommends extension of RoR…

Findings of a review of 64 meta-analytic articles show that experimental data and quasi-experimental or nonexperimental data are sometimes combined incorrectly. Discusses how guidance from proponents of meta-analysis fails to make clear the importance of not synthesizing different kinds of data. (SLD)

Both community development and sustainable livelihood approaches ignore value contestations that underlie people's interests and experiences. A case from Bolivia demonstrates that local values, social relations, actions, and language strategies must underlie policy and method in development. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

Discusses guidelines for professional practice and related policy development by the American Psychological Association's (APA) Board of Professional Affairs over the past decade, explaining that the APA policy distinguishes two types of guidelines for professional practice: treatment guidelines (providing specific recommendations about treatments…

Provides extensive information on nurse policy internships and learning opportunities and a realistic sense of what it is like to work and learn in the public policy domain. A table provides the following information on 15 fellowship programs: type, purpose, eligibility, financial data, duration, and contact for applications. (JOW)

Argues for the decriminalization of marijuana and claims this action would provide a number of policy options. Cautions that a policy of total prohibition has unattainable goals. Points to the failure of recriminalization policies of the past 10 years as the most persuasive argument for decriminalization. (KO)

Discusses the issues faced by Congress concerning the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Considers Alan Simpson's and Edward Kennedy's positions on restructuring the immigration policy to include more independent immigrants. Discusses the backlogs caused by the family preference system, particularly the preference for brothers and sisters of U.S.…

Discusses the development, dissemination, and potential use of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct. (BB)

Examines three alternatives for limiting negative fiat: (1) limiting to United States public actors; (2) limiting to proposals found in the policy literature surrounding the topic; and (3) including caveats or parameters to the resolution indicating the appropriate scope of negative counterplans. (MS)