This report was written by the General Accounting Office (GAO) in response to a request by Senator John Melcher that the GAO provide information about prescription drugs as they relate to the needs of the elderly. The information in the report is based on results of an ongoing GAO study of catastrophic illness insurance and is derived from…

This report summarizes the association of welfare sanctions--benefits terminated or reduced for failure to comply with behavioral requirements--with the health and food security of children younger than 3 years of age in 6 large U.S. cities (Baltimore, Boston, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C.). Information for the report…

Research has found a strong relationship between aggregate economic indicators and the number of individuals receiving services from mental health facilities. To examine the relationship between macroeconomics and health, the broad utilization patterns and demographic information on the aggregate number of individuals using the mental health…

This study was designed to identify and analyze the problems women face in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area. Six major topics were examined in order to determine the significant roles they played in the lives of these women. The topics were health, violence, family and child welfare issues, employment and finance, education, and quality of…

This document summarizes a field hearing that examined the problems faced by low-income young black children in Louisiana, as well as successful home-, community-, and school-based early intervention programs. Thirteen witnesses testified primarily on child care needs and the health status of the State's children. The following problems were…

This study examines culture and illness among Latino immigrants living in Washington, D.C. Both newcomers and established residents with Latin American origins are included in three levels of inquiry: (1) a study of beliefs and perceptions about disease and the practices followed in the management of illness; (2) the identification of levels of…

A stratified probability sample of 4,745 adults in Colorado was surveyed to determine the need for alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services. Findings that variation in need prevalence across 48 subareas of the state substantially challenge the assumptions of a uniform rate of need in a state. (SLD)

This report, the 15th in a series, contains papers by 10 outstanding scholars concerning the state of black America in 1990; it concludes that while many African Americans have made significant economic and political gains, half of the black population is still mired in poverty, joblessness, and hardship caused by racial discrimination. The…

This guide for educational decision-makers presents the major themes and recommendations of 27 reports published between 1985 and 1989 on the problems of at-risk students. It comprises an overview of recommendations from all the reports, abstracts of individual reports, and a 27-item bibliography. The following recommendations concerning the young…

Examines 218 black migrant farm workers to determine applicability of Index of General Well-Being, compare level of mental health with that of the general population, and assess and identify variations in subjective well-being. Finds lifestyle, social support, housing conditions, age, sex, and education influence subjective well-being. Discusses…

This study examined provision of services to children with developmental disabilities and their families in the context of requirements of Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires family centered services for infants and toddlers. Focus group discussions were held with health professionals at two sites in each of…

This compilation of 10 reports reviews the socioeconomic status of African Americans in the United States in 1989. The following topics are discussed: (1) the National Urban League's "Parity 2000" initiative, designed to secure parity between blacks and whites by the end of the century; (2) economic status; (3) family problems; (4)…

In September 1990, The National Conference of State Legislatures surveyed legislatures in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to identify priority issues for the 1991 sessions. After a brief introduction, this document presents survey results in a separate section for each of the 18 topic areas that, together, encompass almost…

Dislocated workers are distinguished from chronically unemployed individuals in that the former have a stable work history and are generally unaware of the community's social services programs and how to use them. Dislocated workers frequently lack job search skills and do not see the transferability of their work skills. Often, they have heavy…

The human needs of Appalachia relate to developments of a post-industrial economy in America, where social attitudes and political policies toward dependent populations (the young, the old, the disabled, and the unemployed) and toward ownership and management of capital and resources have contributed to the extensive poverty of the region. These…