The America Reads Challenge, created in 1997, is a nationwide effort to expand the use of volunteers to help ensure that all children can read "well and independently by the end of third grade." State involvement in the America Reads Challenge has been primarily through the Federal Work Study (FWS) program for college students. The…

This booklet is intended to help volunteer recruiters better understand characteristics of the Latino community that might impact volunteering. It also suggests strategies or steps to use in successfully recruiting and supporting Latino volunteers. Information is based on a study of Latinos and volunteerism conducted in Oregon in 1999. The…

Answers to the questions most commonly asked about Action Learning are beginning to be answered by a test project in Seattle. This article provides insight into what's happening. (Editor)

Growing out of the need for additional youth oriented crisis centers, the paraprofessional crisis intervention center described in this article provided supportive face-to-face communication during the hours when the professional services were not available. (JC)

Surveys three studies on the use and value of teacher aids and cites the need for more evaluation and research in this area. (GB)

An article describing the activities of the Vermont Consumer Aide Program. Volunteers, mostly older lower income persons, visit the less advantaged elderly and acquaint them with various aid programs, consumer information, and offer help for individual needs. (Author/JB)

Discusses the benefits of students from the local high school serving as aides in kindergarten classes. (MB)

In describing the volunteer of the future, this paper portrays the volunteer of the past and depicts a wide array of unpaid helping persons including students, retired persons, the poor, addicts and professional men. (Author/CG)

The effectiveness of volunteer therapists to reduce hospital recidivism was investigated using female schizophrenic outpatients. At the end of one year recidivism rates in the volunteer therapist group were significantly lower than in the control group. The majority of recidivists in both groups had returned by the fourth month. (Author)

The use of volunteers in many types of services and programs may expand in the foreseeable future and libraries should keep certain principles in mind in using them. (AB)

Assessment was obtained of both initial attitudes and attitude change among college students and chronic patients in a hospital companionship program. At the conclusion of the program, students manifested significantly more favorable attitudes toward patients and less favorable attitudes toward the mental hospital; patients saw the students as…

A small sample of volunteer graduate students were randomly assigned to two treatment groups and a control group, to increase their ability to work effectively with specially admitted black students. Results are positive but should be viewed with caution. Need for further study is indicated. (CJ)