Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally-funded, community-based program that provides comprehensive child and family development services to low-income pregnant women and families with children under the age of 3. The mission of EHS is to support healthy prenatal outcomes and enhance the intellectual, social, and emotional development of infants and…

This report focuses on the seven original Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) projects selected for funding in 2003. Three of the original seven projects were selected for a national random assignment evaluation in 2005; however, this report only focuses on program operations prior to joining the random assignment evaluation for the three…

This report presents findings of a study of case management in the United States refugee program. "Case management" is defined as a coordinated activity designed to improve use of services and assistance programs by providing for formal linkages between multiple service providers and by designating a single individual or agency to be…

Children with serious mental or emotional disorders require a range of services and supports, as do their families. Yet fragmentation of services and conflicting program rules have long impeded children's and families' access to needed care. This issue brief examines how federal programs and rules have contributed to this fragmentation and…

To help improve nutrition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides nutrition education through five of its programs: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP); Food Stamp Program (FSP); Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); National School Lunch Program (NLP); and Child and Adult Care…

A project is described to develop a model system by which local education agencies (LEAs) can form successful working relationships with other human service providers to better serve special education students. The models (both process and content) designate LEAs as the central access point to the service continuum. The project's efforts to devise…

The article examines the partnership between the Canadian government and nonprofit organizations in delivering rehabilitation services to blind/visually impaired adults. Discussed are legislation, concessions to blind persons, services of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, special equipment, dog guide schools, consumer groups, and the…

In this assessment of federal legislation and programs affecting coordination of services to people with disabilities, actions are addressed which can lead to a more comprehensive and coherent service delivery system. Past coordinative efforts have attempted to resolve problems occurring at both the policy level and in program administration.…

Years of categorical funding have led to fragmented service delivery systems related to children and families. States have had to devise mechanisms to coordinate the variety of funding streams which finance the array of children's programs. Creation of a single focal point for children's policy at the national level is recommended. Attempts to…

A study explored the extent to which 154 federal programs that provide employment training assistance overlap in the populations targeted and services provided and whether such overlap has any potentially adverse effects. The research was conducted in the following ways: categorizing the 154 programs by the primary target populations served;…

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federally funded preventive health and nutrition program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through state and local agencies and provides services to nutritionally at risk low-income pregnant women, postpartum women, infants, and children up to…

In response to the problems caused by categorical funding for services to children and families, the National Commission on Children recommended a series of changes in the organization, administration, and implementation of programs at all levels of government, to encourage a more collaborative and comprehensive service delivery system, including…

This paper identifies issues and needs related to services for migrant children based on a review of the literature and discussions with experts in the field. Background on migrant children includes definitions; demography; migrant data sources; and descriptions of federal migrant education, migrant health, and migrant Head Start programs. A…

This technical assistance guide was developed to assist Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) and Private Industry Councils (PICs) to develop local coordination activities and to enhance their ongoing coordination efforts. The guide is organized in five sections. The first section introduces the guide and defines "coordination." It is followed…

This report to the President and Congress addresses issues affecting people with disabilities from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, based on a series of meetings which identified remaining barriers to full participation and developed recommendations for improving federal policies and programs. The main barriers which emerged were: (1)…