Various methodologies place the number of elderly retarded Americans between 50,000 and 315,000 persons. The literature surveyed by the author indicates that the retarded experience the aging process similarly to the nonretarded population, can adapt to the nursing-home environment, and will become a greater social concern in the future. (Author)

Presents three articles on housing policies for the elderly. Topics include the need for housing assistance and targeting aid to the disabled, the practicality of delivering support services to impaired elderly in current housing, and potential future directions of federal housing policy. (NRB)

Describes a successful program for teaching preschool handicapped children new skills in their own homes by making their parents more effective teachers. The service delivery model and program design are detailed, and a summary of conference presentations on the Portage Model is included. (DT)

Interviewed 990 urban elderly Canadians to examine factors influencing the desire for different housing. Results showed that housing conditions, living with children, and sickness influenced the wishes of the elderly to leave home, while functional impairment was not related. (JAC)

Report on Viewtron, first commercial videotex service in the United States, includes its multifarious services, subscription base, management by Viewdata, and failure to succeed as quickly as was expected. Explanations for this shortfall are discussed, and based on a review of the entire system, recommendations are made for boosting sales.…

Block parent programs that provide homes where children can seek help in case of emergencies as they go to and from school are described. Programs in Phoenix (Arizona), Detroit (Michigan), and the states of Oregon and Kansas, emphasize cooperation with local law enforcement agencies. (PP)

Describes a continuum of services to families in their homes to prevent the necessity of child placement. Presents four categories of services--general case management, the comprehensive social worker, the in-house team, and the intraagency team--to aid families who demonstrate psychological difficulty and resource deficits. (Author/JAC)

Describes a peer counselor training program for five older adult volunteers. Presents suggestions for advertising, screening, program format, and development of practica, and examines the role and helpfulness of the peer counselors who provided in-home counseling services. (JAC)

A parent training program which is highly effective in the treatment of child noncompliance and other behavior problems of 3- to 8-year-old children is described and data on the program's effectiveness are presented. (PHR)

Cost effectiveness of the program cannot be accurately determined. Assessment is based on actual self-care rather than proving poverty. A flexible approach is taken toward disability level and family support. States should keep community care flexible and available at acceptable cost. (JAC)

Assessed effect of changes in minimum number of activities of daily living (ALD) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) limitations, types of help, and duration of disability required on size of population potentially eligible for home care benefits. Only 411,000 elders met restrictive disability criteria; over 4 million would qualify…

Information on a national survey of 643 home visiting programs serving families with children under 3 years of age is presented. Data include family characteristics, purpose of home visits, services provided, organizational structure, the conduct of home visits, home visitor employment and training, and program evaluation efforts. (Author/DB)

Applied behavioral-systems family therapy model to lower socioeconomic status juvenile offenders. Compared 27 delinquents, court-referred to in-home time-unlimited family therapy, to 27 lower-risk delinquents who received only probation. Examined number and severity of offenses during 30 months following group assignment. Found delinquents in…

Examines a whole language "school" run by 14-year-old Bryan Sans of New Rochelle, New York, describing the after-school and weekend activities that he organized for his younger siblings and neighborhood children. (MDM)

The Partners in Learning Take Home Computer Program, which began in New Mexico in 1989 to extend the learning environment into the home, distributes 200 computers to families. Results of the program include a 90% rise in parent to school contact; parental involvement in schoolwork; and increases in reading and math scores. (JMV)