Research has consistently shown that 3- and 4-year-olds who attend a high-quality preschool are more successful in kindergarten and beyond--both academically and socially. But the majority of preschool programs in the United States are not judged as good, with many rated far below that. Many of our most vulnerable children attend the lowest…

Since their appearance in the early 1970s, family support programs have represented a new way of working with families, based on the partnership they establish with families, their acceptance in the community as an asset and resource for all families, and the trusting relationship they build with families who participate in these programs. This…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of Partners Plus: Families and Caregivers in Partnerships, a model demonstration project designed to expand respite care options for families of children (birth to 8 years old) with disabilities. The program uses a natural and family-centered model that involves families in the design,…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a 4-year federally funded project designed to provide effective practices in the delivery of educational services to Pennsylvania children and youth with deafblindness from birth through 21 years of age and to their families and service providers. Outcomes of the project included: (1)…

This paper reflects on lessons learned from the implementation of KAN Focus, a demonstration project to develop a system of care for children with severe emotional disturbance in rural southeast Kansas. It notes trends toward providing more and younger children with community-based support services which provide family centered services,…

The 2006 survey is the seventh annual survey of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program conducted by The Evaluation Center. This survey collects information about the general characteristics of the ATE program's grantees and their work activities, accomplishments, and impacts. This fact sheet presents…

Materials are presented from a 1994 meeting on expanding community connections of the six-state Magnolia Circle Outreach Project, which fosters networking between families and professionals involved in services for children (birth to 5 years) with, or at risk for, developmental delays. The meeting was designed to highlight successful collaborative…

Evaluation results for 1993-94 are presented for a Louisiana program to increase family participation in educational services for children with deaf-blindness and to coordinate services with federal initiatives. The program involves student identification, family training, infant and toddler direct services, technical assistance, transition…

This document presents the findings of a review of federal and state job training programs and governance structures in California that was commissioned to identify options for restructuring California's work force preparation policy and governance of the state's system of work force preparation programs through vocational education, job training,…

This study examined the feasibility of establishing a Centre on Disabilities in Regina, Saskatchewan, as a cooperative effort of the city and the University of Regina. The Centre would provide professional continuing education; conduct research on disabilities issues, including policy development; and work with communities throughout Saskatchewan…

This guide outlines hospital-to-home transition guidelines to ensure a successful transition of an at-risk infant. Interagency planning is discussed, with the benefits for families, hospitals, and infant-toddler service providers highlighted. Steps that transition planners should follow to ensure a sound transition plan are provided. Useful…

This manual describes the PACT (Parent and Community Team) for School Success concept, which was developed from insights and techniques gained from three dropout and intervention projects with high-risk junior high school youth and families. PACT focuses on ways to initiate and maintain a group that meets frequently to create ongoing cohesive…

This document reports the results of a federally supported program, the Western Region Faculty Institute for Training in Colorado, to train college faculty to conduct inservice training in early intervention with infants and toddlers (birth-to-3) at risk for or with disabilities. A "training of trainers" model was used. The program…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of the 3-year federally supported Minnesota Deaf-Blind Technical Assistance Project. The project provided training and technical assistance, information sharing, and support services to families of children with deaf-blindness. Activities and accomplishments included: collaboration with…

The U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect was established under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). In its annual reports, the Board is charged with evaluating the nation's efforts to accomplish the purpose of CAPTA and to propose recommendations about ways those efforts can be improved. Noting that every day, five young…