This paper reports on student experiences with an interdisciplinary project entitled "The Difficult Conversation", the aim of which was to develop professional competences linked with parental cooperation in heterogeneous social contexts, ethical reflection, pedagogical tact, and judgment skills. Student experiences with the project were…

Investigated whether risk factors identified in international studies differentiate among at-risk Norwegian school children (fourth graders) receiving social services. Found few socio-demographic differences but that social service clients scored higher on risk and lower on competence variables than cohort group. Compared to parent and teacher…

Argues that Norwegian day-care centers can represent a genuine welfare factor for parents and children only if center planning and development are founded on systematic analyses of the children's developmental environment and the day-care center's function as one of several measures designed to meet child needs and interests. (Author/DB)