This publication is fifth in a series of technical assistance papers intended to assist Federal agency personnel in the design and implementation of executive personnel management programs. This document focuses primarily upon team building, one of a variety of techniques of organization development designed to improve the way in which work is…

Social support has been studied in the context of its relationship to and effect on negative experiences. While this buffer aspect of social support is important, support may also play a satisfaction-enhancing role. Both the negative event-buffering and positive event-boosting effect of social support on students' satisfaction with their college…

In 1980, the teacher education program at the University of California at Los Angeles initiated the position of consultant to complement the student teaching triad (student teacher, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor). Consultants were doctoral students who visited the schools to assist the student teachers and cooperating teachers and…

Children undergo the experience of separation and loss in many ways. Whether the loss is great or small, whether it arises from death or divorce, moving or hospitalization, or simply the politics of friendship, the experience of separation from a person one loves can be devastating. This book was written to guide the caring adult who wants to help…

The creation of Title XX of the Social Security Administration in 1975 has led to a tremendous increase in homemaker, task, and home management services to the frail elderly. Several needs assessments of the rural elderly have pointed to discrepancies between services rendered and services actually wanted or needed by clients. The Senior Services…

The importance of programs that help the elderly to continue living at home has been clearly established. Homemaker aides in these programs generally provide homemaking assistance and psychological support to their clients, but may experience role conflict as a result of responding directly to the demands of both clients and the program. Clients…

Research on the cognitive activity of clinicians during the initial interview has revealed that mental health professionals are often guided by social stereotypes of attractiveness in their choice of patients for intensive individual or group psychotherapy. Specifically, YAVIS patients (young, attractive, verbal, intelligent, successful) are…

The development of a program of self-help support groups for teachers experiencing stress in Chicago public schools is described. These support groups attempted to alleviate stress-related illness by reducing teacher isolation and by enabling teachers to help each other cope with problems and fears. The support groups were led by teachers who…

This paper describes the Elder Program, a 3 year Model Demonstration Program designed to strengthen neighborhood support systems for older persons through an educational program emphasizing information, resources, and skill development. A discussion of basic assumptions and the theoretical background of the model focuses on the principles of…

Supervision is the application of knowledge, attitudes, and skills through human interaction to provide direction, support, or feedback. Supervision occurs in a specific situation, and, therefore, analysis of the situation may determine the skills and behaviors appropriate to that situation. Supervision is not accomplished through the application…

This guide examines the problem of providing orientation for foreign students attending U.S. universities. Ideas and suggestions for the design and conduct of orientation programs are provided. Inherent constraints that may impair program success are enumerated, including erratic student arrival times, lack of motivation to participate in…

The concepts and procedures used in two skill development laboratories for college students are introduced. The materials describe the interviewing skills lab that teaches a variety of interpersonal skills used in one-on-one helping relationships, and the group skills lab that provides practical training in the basic skills of leading, conducting,…

Ethnography as a classroom observation method addresses itself to the situations, events, patterns, and contexts that exist in a classroom at a given time. A priori categorical observation and evaluation systems measure what the system is designed to "see," and may fail to record anomolies and salient events that affect teaching and learning in…

Beginning counselors are rarely able to avoid anxiety during early counseling sessions. The fears involved in demonstrating counseling arise from: (1) irrational beliefs concerning "the perfect response;" (2) academic coursework which seems to equate psychological illness with poor counseling skills; (3) uncertainty about necessary skills; and (4)…

Researchers in the area of depression, aware that women are more likely than men to be depressed, have examined women's marital and employment status to explain this phenomenon. However, the meanings, perceptions, and situations encountered within marital and work roles also contribute to emotional distress. The traditional sex role explanation of…