Early childhood educators have a unique opportunity to foster the development of cognitive, behavioral, and social skills. But the work is not easy. Effective educators need both a deep understanding of child development and mastery of a complex set of skills to meet the learning needs of young children. Accordingly, there is a growing demand…

This report describes efforts to provide seamless transitions from early to elementary education. Specifically, it details SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids), a five-year initiative funded by the Kellogg Foundation, which has contributed a unique, community-based perspective to the national conversation on what it takes to…

Introduction: Pennsylvania's Improving Performance in Practice (IPIP) program is administered by the Pennsylvania (PA) chapters of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics. The project has provided coaching, monthly measurement, and patient registry support for 155 primary-care…

This directory provides information about 91 service learning initiatives taking place in Pennsylvania. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the individual programs put forth by each of the grantees. Introductory material includes tables showing the following: grant distribution by school district, year awarded, and type of grant; grants by…

A report of a Community Resource Development (CRD) study in the Extension Services of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Missouri is presented. The three states represent different stages of development of CRD work, and are differently organized. The purpose of the study is to compare the three Extension organizations. Extension personnel of relative…

Factors that have contributed to the sluggish evolution of an adequate planning methodology in environmental health programs at the local level are detailed. Areas of environmental health programs identified by the author as needing change include: management, the administrative model, program evaluation, and community participation. (BT)

This article describes the Applied Engineering Technology (AET) Career and Educational Pathways Program, which helps local manufacturers find quality workers. The program features 32 high schools, three community colleges, and 10 four-year institutions offering an integrated regional system of applied engineering education. The goal is to enroll…

Community coalitions (CCs) have labored with some difficulty to demonstrate empirical evidence of effectiveness in preventing a wide range of adolescent problem behaviors. Training and technical assistance (TA) have been identified as important elements in promoting improved functioning of CCs. A reliable, valid, and inexpensive method to assess…

Describes study of rural or small town community development programs funded by the Small Town Emphasis Program. Outlines program factors including competition, innovation, needs assessment, low income involvement, networks, technical assistance, efficiency, strategy, and timing. Provides examples of six programs and recommends future development…

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's Learn and Serve America K-12 Grant Program distributes funds from the Corporation for National Service to schools to develop and expand service learning programs throughout Pennsylvania. The 1995-96 grant program is currently funding 101 school-based programs (70 recipients of continuing funds from the…

This report, summarizing the proceedings at a February 1988 conference at Brown University on youth service, presents briefly an overview of the emerging network of youth service programs in the following states: (1) Minnesota; (2) Pennsylvania; (3) California; (4) Massachusetts; and (5) Ohio. Rationales for youth service are analyzed. Eight…

This guidebook has been developed to support and coordinate efforts across Pennsylvania to increase the connections between farms and schools. It is written for schools and school districts--and especially for food service directors, teachers, administrators, school nurses, and school health and wellness committees. It is also written for farmers…

LOCAL SPONSORS MUST PREPARE A PLAN FOR A PROPOSED COMMUNITY COLLEGE, INCLUDING SIX MAJOR TOPICS--(1) HISTORY OF ORGANIZATION AND SPONSORSHIP, (2) DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE AREA, (3) RESULTS OF A COMMUNITY SURVEY, (4) PHILOSOPHY, OBJECTIVES, AND ORGANIZATION OF THE PROPOSED COLLEGE, (5) LEGAL AND FINANCIAL MATTERS, AND (6) SUPPORTING…

Partnerships in education often begin as a way to stretch resources, but then become harmonious, growing relationships. This brochure describes Pennsylvania's Partnerships in Education program, an outgrowth of earlier "adopt-a-school" efforts and a component of Governor Dick Thornburgh's comprehensive reform package. Students benefit by…

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's…