Describes a model of service delivery for children with autism and pervasive developmental disorders that seeks to prevent at-risk students from being placed residentially and to return those who live in residential school to less restrictive environments. Describes the organization and critical components for the Family Support Program. Discusses…

Background: Four elementary (primary) school students with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI) who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) aids were selected to take part in an intensive, 4-week summer intervention program. The program was designed to explore effective approaches, content and contexts for supporting…

The evidence-based practice movement in the early childhood field has stimulated efforts to synthesize and disseminate research findings related to direct services, such as child interventions and classroom teaching practices. This article describes the need to use an evidence-based process to make decisions about indirect services, specifically…

This study provides information about prevention and control practices in intervention and comparison secondary schools 2 years after the start-up of the Texas Tobacco Prevention Initiative. The intervention, which was funded through the Texas Department of State Health Services, consisted of guidance, training, technical assistance, and…

This model starts with the assumption that a drinking problem is a family problem. Alcoholism is seen as a complex, progressive illness dangerous not only to the individual drinker but also to his family, friends, and society as a whole. Early intervention is seen as important in dealing with the problem. Early warning signs and symptoms are set…

The article describes a family enrichment program for families with a disabled member who do not need or may not be interested in family counseling. Based on the principles of Adlerian psychology, the program uses an activity approach to help families recognize and build on individual and collective strengths. (Author)

This article discusses: the concept of team interaction as it relates to early intervention with young special needs children, the evolution of the family's role on the team, and principles and practices for team development of the Individualized Family Service Plan. Examples of exemplary family-focused principles and practices are provided. (JDD)

Purpose: An increasingly important task for all disciplines involved in aging research is to identify and prioritize areas for investigation. This article reports the results of a national Delphi study on setting research priorities for gerontological social work. Design and Methods: Delphi methodology, a structured process for eliciting and…

Youth from single-parent families report lower educational aspirations than those from two-parent families. This study explored the influence of background factors (gender, grade, parental education and SES), parental involvement with education, academic self-concept, and peer influences on educational aspirations. The participants were Canadian…

Models of collaboration among disciplines and among agencies have been developed in the early intervention field in response to the need for service coordination for young special needs children and their families. Case management is seen as a mechanism for effectively coordinating these services, and encompasses the tasks of assessing client…

Swallowing problems can result from a catastrophic illness or injury, and the family's role is very important in implementing the swallowing precautions recommended by the rehabilitation team. Explained in this pamphlet are the stages of the normal swallowing sequence, symptoms of a swallowing disorder, medical conditions associated with…

This seminar on the role of teachers in intervention programs consists of five papers. The first serves as an introduction and stresses the necessity of teachers' acceptance of change for program success. In the second paper, Sigel and Jackson expand on one of Sigel's introductory themes, the central role of the teacher in the process of change…

Interviews were conducted with 17 families having a member with mental retardation and problem behavior, to investigate the families' definition of problem behavior, challenges the family faces, and successful approaches to changing the behavior. The needs of families were identified, such as the need for more information on the problem behavior.…

This article examines trends in autism in the context of parental problems and decisions. It compares autism in America in the 1960s with autism today, considers the roles of the Autism Society of America, and discusses the experience of parenting with emphasis on the individuality of each person with autism, challenges, and the probability of…

The purpose of the brief is to help educators, service providers, and local evaluators in schools, intermediary and community-based organizations, and social service agencies become more effective by highlighting the best program and evaluation practices of family-strengthening intervention programs. At a time when evidence-based practice matters,…