Three highly distractible female students, aged 9 through 11, with mild to moderate mental handicaps completed a 5-step training process followed by student self-monitoring with no tangible extrinsic reinforcement for improved performance. Results found increased on-task behavior in all subjects and increased academic productivity in two.…

Claims that the Carolina Abecedarian Project, an early intervention with children from economically and socially impoverished homes, has produced and maintained higher IQs in children at risk of mental retardation are examined for approximately 112 children. Assertions of project success are reviewed, and the implications are discussed. (SLD)

Discusses the related nature of prevention and treatment of drug abuse and alcohol abuse. For both prevention and treatment, the focus must be on outreach, culturally specific needs, and community-based needs. Treatment modalities that have been most effective are those that put the basic needs of the client first. (SLD)

This article reviews current research on the long-term outcomes of children exposed to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and multiple drugs in utero. Differential intervention efforts based primarily on knowledge of a child's intrauterine exposure to drugs were unsupported by available evidence. The use of an ecological model for assessment and…

Resiliency research helps identify preventive measures for avoiding negative outcomes associated with stress. The article discusses what separates those who cope successfully with life's stressors from those who cope poorly. Health promotion programs must develop early preventions to avoid negative spirals in children before stressors permanently…

Researchers believe an ecological perspective that considers multiple factors as impacting delinquent behavior is important, and early intervention can effectively reduce delinquency. Four studies have shown reduced delinquency in children receiving early intervention services. The article examines several perspectives and suggests children must…

According to this literature review, school practices such as placement of at-risk students in alternative, nontraditional programs, individualized counseling, low student-teacher ratio, heavy vocational emphasis, and peer tutoring successfully lower dropout rates, whereas remediation, retention in grade, tracking, and suspension only exacerbate…

This article describes a discourse-based language intervention strategy in which children with pervasive developmental disorders are taught to make use of prior linguistic context to participate verbally in structured, interactive dialogues. The paper also describes the use of behavioral methodologies, especially milieu therapies, and the need for…

This paper offers a longitudinal perspective on early intervention for children with disabilities. The quality of life which results from intervention is discussed, and features of intervention programs, such as early screening, a focus on the family, and classroom processes, are described. (BC)

California's approach to developing programmatic and administrative models for the implementation of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) in providing services to young handicapped children is discussed. The models focus on implementing recognized best practices as well as changing state policy and administrative structure to enhance…

Describes the development and implementation of the Surgeon General's "Healthy Children Ready to Learn" initiative, which encourages parents to be their children's first teachers, requires nutrition and health care for all children, and emphasizes access to high quality preschool programs for disadvantaged and disabled children. (SM)

Behavior-disordered children account for major problems encountered in schools today. Researchers developed a comprehensive way of addressing child behavior problems by emphasizing school-home-community collaboration. The article presents a conceptual framework that describes the development of antisocial behavior and critical intervention points…

Discusses issues concerning forced migration. In today's climate, there is an increased willingness to intervene in other countries' affairs to avert the creation of new floods of immigrants or to assist internally displaced populations, and there is the expectation of large-scale and voluntary returns of refugees in asylum. (SLD)

This study followed up on 19 children (ages 9-19) with autism who had received a very intensive behavioral preschool intervention. Results showed that the experimental group preserved their gains in regular class placement, in intelligence quotient, and in adaptive behavior. (JDD)

This commentary on EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, emphasizes the need for replication. The replication study should use random assignment to experimental and control groups, a larger sample of cases, standard diagnostic instruments to delineate…