Describes how family literacy programs help increase adult literacy levels, broaden reading skills for children, and foster good reading habits for all family members. The recipients of Bell Atlantic/American Library Association Family Literacy Project grants are listed, their programs are summarized, and 11 clues that can help determine a…

The Prescribed Pediatric Center (Toledo, Ohio) is a community-based, multidisciplinary program for infants and children with chronic, complex medical conditions. This article describes program beginnings; the planning process; and the program's growth, development, and components. Initial program evaluation indicates positive effects on some…

This commentary summarizes findings from previous articles on system-of-care mental health programs for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. It addresses characteristics of participating children and families, system measurement system development, costs and sustainability, and family participation in program…

This paper summarizes the "Global Workshop on Children with Disabilities in Developing Countries" held in Washington, D.C. in February 1997. The conference focused on children with disabilities in developing countries which encouraged networking, linkages, and partnerships. The conference was attended by representatives of more than 30 nations,…

The curriculum presented in this document involves a set of learning activities whereby parents can help children increase school achievement. The program emphasizes the idea that when families learn together a bridge of shared knowledge and caring is established between generations. Numerous activities, called "recipes for learning,"…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of a 4-year federal grant to provide statewide planning and improved educational and support services for 150 Louisiana children/youth with deafblindness. Activities and accomplishments are reported for each of six major objectives: (1) organizing project resources; (2) improving early…

Examines three aspects of legal treatment of blood relationships in the adoption process: (1) ability of relatives to participate in adoption proceedings; (2) how courts evaluate blood relationships in determining best interests of the child; and (3) rights of relatives to continued contact when a child is adopted by nonrelatives. (Author)

Maintains that children's museums provide unique opportunities that engage families in intergenerational exploration and learning. Provides criteria for selecting a museum that serves developmental needs of children and adults alike. (BB)

Patrick O'Hearn School in Boston (Massachusetts) has been a model integration elementary school, integrating children with disabilities with regular education students since 1989. Elements of the program include 2 teachers in each classroom of 20 students, a visually impaired principal, a family center, and a planned home visitation program. (JB)

This article describes two studies that evaluated training intended to improve the family friendliness of five components of the admission treatment team process at an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric hospital. While role-play training did not improve family friendliness, mindfulness training enhanced the family friendliness of all five…

In order to improve post-discharge outcomes for children, it has been proposed that residential treatment centers place a greater emphasis on engaging families and building on strengths of the youths in treatment. This review presents the theoretical and empirical support for several promising strategies for engaging families, such as behavioral…

This paper presents the first comparative findings emerging from 20 individual case studies into the adoption, use, and effects of microcomputers in families. The 20 families are first described according to a number of key demographic characteristics--socioeconomic, nationality, parent occupations, number and ages of children, etc. An examination…

This handbook for the nonprofessional provides basic information, organizational suggestions,and program ideas for operating child care programs which do not require advance registration or regular attendance. The focus is on child care provided in conjunction with "family-centered programs" (such as parent discussion groups) where…

Describes Green Chimneys School, a New York multi-service residential agency for emotionally disturbed children and their families. Describes how Green Chimneys opens its campus to the community with help from an advisory board. Notes advantages of community involvement and addresses 13 issues that can arise with community involvement. (SB)

Explores the role of experience in educational change in a roundtable discussion with S. Nicolau, D. Davies, and D. Moore. A common thread is the vision of the school as a center of community life and a community of learners that includes students, parents, and teachers. (SLD)