The Council of Chief State School Officers' (CCSSO's) commitment to equity is rooted in the belief that all students--across race, ethnicity, gender, language, disability, sexual orientation, or family background or income--deserve an education that prepares them for success in college, careers, and life. One of the actions that state education…

This report summarizes the impact of federal programs on individual counselors, including suggestions on advocating to improve the programs' recognition of professional mental health counselors. These are all separate programs, formulated under their own laws, regulations, and agencies.

During the past three decades, there has been an increase in knowledge about early childhood development. Early experiences can function as either risk factors or protective factors for a child's future health and development. This has led to concern about how current health systems contribute to the quality of the earliest experiences of life.…

This resource manual is designed to assist new and veteran board members in becoming effective and meaningful contributors to the community mental health center (CMHC) program. The materials summarize the growth and development of the CMHC concept and the services required by law and address the process of building and organizing the…

This guide is designed for individuals working in community mental health centers or other mental health programs concerned with needs and problems of the elderly. Section One examines the mental health needs of the elderly, and identifies major community social support programs that help the elderly with social and economic needs. Section Two…

This booklet is intended to inform (not advise) older Kansans about eligibility requirements and benefits provided by state and federal programs. Financial assistance programs discussed are Social Security, railroad retirements, veterans' benefits, unrestricted general assistance, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, food stamps, Low Income…

This booklet, translated into Spanish, is intended to inform (not advise) older Kansans about eligibility requirements and benefits provided by state and federal programs. Financial assistance programs discussed are Social Security, railroad retirements, veterans' benefits, unrestricted general assistance, Employee Retirement Income Security Act,…

Summaries are presented of more than 60 key federal laws pertaining to the legal rights and benefits available to persons with disabilities. The laws are organized into general subject areas, including: education, employment, health, housing, income maintenance, nutrition, rights, social services, transportation, and vocational rehabilitation. The…

This guide contains suggestions for citizens to follow in exploring and addressing policies that affect children. The guide focuses on federal child policy, but the strategies described also apply to policies at the state and local levels. The first part of the guide describes sources of information on government policies relating to children.…

About 36,500 infants die each year in the United States, due largely to low birth weight and inadequate prenatal care. The United States ranks twenty-second among the world's nations in infant mortality. This brochure addresses the high infant mortality rate in the United States compared to other developed nations, and notes actions that…

In 2003, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) released a "Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Health." In recognition of the critical role states play in the development of early childhood initiatives and of the unique contributions that state Title V programs can make to these initiatives, the Bureau operationalized their…