A structural approach which focuses on social and economic conditions under which poverty exists and which de-personalizes causes is used to study the extent and trends of poverty in general and Maine in particular. The 1980 Census reported that 13% of Maine's population was poor, but since income in Maine is generally low many people fall in and…

Computerized analysis of 1980 Census data documented educational deficiencies in 85 Central Appalachian counties of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Dropout rates among youth ages 16-19 were found to be higher in Central Appalachian counties than in non-Central Appalachian counties, the poorest counties had the highest dropout…

Effective rural development planning depends on facts and analysis based, not on rural averages, but on the diverse social and economic structure of rural America. Programs tailored to particular types of rural economies may be more effective than generalized programs. Because of their unique characteristics, government policies and economic…

Social workers in rural midwestern areas such as Iowa must consider distinctive characteristics of the poor in those areas to help clients within the framework of family and community. Characteristics of rural poor include presence of father in family, residence in small towns with a single industry, presence of high numbers of female elderly,…

In a county by county analysis, this report assesses the quality of life for Kentucky's children. Researchers developed a child quotient (CQ) based on 18 indicators: per capita income, children in poverty, women receiving inadequate prenatal care, infant deaths, teens giving birth, substandard dwellings, children in foster care, per-pupil…

A review of studies conducted from 1973-1984 shows continuing inequalities between rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian school districts in Kentucky, particularly in the areas of expenditures, sources of revenue, and holding power. The gap between Appalachian and non-Appalachian school systems in per pupil expenditures and the percentage of…

Regional seminars were held to assess the ideas presented in the report, sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, entitled "Education for Tomorrow's Jobs" and to record ways to improve the quality of vocational education. The organizers of the seminars invited knowledgeable experts in the field to discuss ways to improve vocational…