Advances graduate-level social-work curriculum model, designed to meet diverse training needs of rural communities. Emphasizes value of "advanced generalists," social workers who work in many roles with all community segments. Describes model's coursework, including research, field practicum, and specific focus on American Indians. (TES)

High school students and teachers were recruited to conduct a community needs assessment, providing opportunities for students to learn about their community and community service and to interest them in involvement in community affairs. Only a limited change in their feelings of empowerment was experienced. (SK)

The political status of First Nations peoples as sovereign nations under federal control creates unique opportunities for developing social and educational programs with revenues from Indigenous gaming ventures. In response to unmet human and social needs, strength-based approaches that empower Native people are especially critical in overcoming…

The assessment of community needs was one of the key foundations of the Circles of Care planning effort. Grantees identified a range of needs at the child, adolescent, family, programmatic, and community levels. This information, along with an emphasis on the importance of each community's history and culture, served as an important guide for each…

In this article I argue that the current high-stakes testing accountability model is an assistencialist model, derived from deficit thinking paradigms. Such models, like the No Child Left Behind Act, sanction low performance with serious consequences for students and educators. Drawing from Freire, I propose an anti-assistencialist accountability…

This paper is an investigation of the impact of the Shepherd School Program, a non-formal basic education program implemented in seven pastoral communities in northern Ghana. The paper argues that non-formal basic education programs can have an important impact on the educational development of a community. However, for this to be possible, the…

The Specialist Schools Initiative in England has urged schools to plan their teaching of foreign languages in relation to the linguistic needs and preferences of their local communities. The changing multilingual fabric of many parts of Britain make such a goal a potentially difficult and controversial process. This paper explores the views of a…

Various traditions within developmental science and psychology have concentrated on either personal or collective correlates as manifestations of well-being. The authors' claim is that the well-being of any one person is highly dependent on the well-being of her relationships and on the community in which she resides. Well-being may be defined as…

A telephone survey was conducted in 1981 at Reading Area Community College (RACC) to determine the educational needs of the community, particularly those of prospective students and employers. More specifically, the study sought to determine how the Berks County community perceived the quality of education provided at RACC and to ascertain the…

Challenges the assumption that elected school boards are more responsive to local community needs than are appointed school boards. (Author/DN)

The needs assessment process is broken down into nine steps: (1) identifying community leaders; (2) defining assessment terms; (3) developing areas of concern; (4) conducting the assessment; (5) data analysis; (6) prioritizing; (7) analysis of probable success in meeting needs; (8) planning the program; and (9) evaluation. Surveys are discussed,…

Discusses factors to be considered by a university in launching an adult/continuing education program. Information covers identification of needs and resources, target groups, anticipation of problems, and program selectivity and specificity. (SH)

This survey is intended to measure student satisfaction with a wide range of college experience including academic services, campus support services, safety, effectiveness of instructors, campus climate, and responsiveness to diverse populations. Students rate each section by the importance of the expectation as well as their own personal…

This book examines the history of supportive social services to examine ways in which those services have been helpful, and sometimes unhelpful, to poor families; the factors that have constrained service provision and reform; and what would make the service enterprise viable in the coming years. Discussed are formative influences on the…

Describes Libraries Online, a pilot project created by Microsoft and the American Library Association to develop ways to provide access to information technologies to underserved populations. Presents the nine public libraries that will receive cash grants, staff training, computer hardware and software, and technical support to help support local…