Rural communities with populations of under 15,000 are the least resilient to negative economic shocks, but local initiatives can reduce the negative impact of rapid economic change. Data from a study of three rural Australian communities and one "community-of-common-purpose" were used to develop a model of how the informal learning…

A case study in a rural Australian township attempted to determine indicators verifying the existence of social capital. Social capital is provisionally defined as the networks, norms, and trust that constitute the capacity of individuals, workplaces, groups, organizations, and communities to strive for sustainable futures in a changing…

Community education, a process-oriented, community-based concept, should help bridge the gap between the school and the community. The linkage should prove that the schools belong to the people and that community resources need to be harnessed to serve the educational, social, and recreational needs of the people. Community education makes full…

Defines environment with three questions: What is it? What do we do in it? How do we feel about it? Describes developing urban environment programs in Philadelphia and recommends guidelines for other teachers to develop their own programs. (DB)

South Carolina University student activity in the Special Olympics for mentally retarded youngsters and dozens of other community and fund-raising activities are described. In six months they generated $63,000 in contributions. Students are concluded to be national as well as community resources. (Author/MLW)

Study compared fifty adult performance level (APL) graduates' scores to fifty high school graduates' scores for four APL knowledge areas. APL graduates scored significantly higher than high school graduates in consumer economics and occupational knowledge. No significant differences were recorded between groups in areas of community resources and…

Addresses the feasibility of establishing standards that would guide communities in protecting the environments of children and families. Recommends an environmental assessment tool that evaluates child well-being, compares community averages in terms of high-risk factors, includes longitudinal assessments of child well-being, examines community…

Higher education is being asked to pay more attention to student learning and to contribute to advancement of community social and economic conditions. As a result, educational institutions will no longer be self-contained. Community members and organizations have become critical partners in framing goals and intentions of educational reform, and…

Among 86 migrant farmworkers surveyed in northwest North Carolina (Avery, Aske, Alleghany, and Watauga counties), all were Hispanic, few spoke English, most had little education and job skills, and the majority were unfamiliar with community resources. A related survey revealed that community and business representatives understated migrant needs…

Describes the partnership between city government, higher education, and the business community in developing the Birmingham (Alabama) Early Learning Center, a child care program for infants and young children. Outlines the missions of the Early Learning Center, including offering high-quality care, providing a teacher education facility,…

"The Fit Kids" program, which assessed the physical fitness level of more than 1000 students, resulted from a public school-university-business alliance. Development and implementation of the program are described, and guidelines are provided on how to use community resources to develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive fitness…

Description of public libraries that are combined and housed with school libraries focuses on successful library combinations in Canada and Australia. Topics discussed include community needs; cost factors; staffing and administrative issues; cataloging differences; location considerations; services offered; funding; and advantages for rural…

Proposes analysis focusing on linkage mechanisms between ethnic populations and wider socioeconomic environments. Examines roles and motivations of "ethnic brokers" between community agencies and Mexican-Americans settling in Riverside, Wisconsin. Suggests integration of two levels of analysis helps clarify micro-level contributions to…

Describes the large Asian Indian community of Northern California and observes how this relatively recent immigration has generated a rich and diverse array of organizations, business enterprises, and community events. Subcultural and transnational practices are discussed, as is the reformulation of India in the San Francisco Bay Area. (GR)

Discusses drug-exposed infants from the perspective of a juvenile court judge. Experience in Los Angeles County (California) illustrates the following common problems in the juvenile courts: (1) high court caseload; (2) lack of legal representation and overloaded case workers; and (3) lack of resources mandated by law. (SLD)