This practitioner's guide discusses what digital storytelling (DST) is and reasons for using it in family literacy (FL) programs. Examples of FL programs using DST effectively are provided, along with concrete steps for implementation. The guide concludes with important considerations for educators and a list of resources.

Home visiting is one tool used to prevent child abuse and improve child well-being by providing education and services in families' homes through parent education and connection to community resources. This toolkit provides state policymakers and advocates with strategies for extending and expanding access to state- or federally-funded home…

This guide presents useful research findings and best practice information about developing parent and family involvement programs. The first chapter focuses on reporting research findings on parent involvement and highlights pertinent findings on how parent involvement benefits students, parents, teachers, school quality, and program designs.…

One requirement of The California Children and Families First Act (Proposition 10) is "to facilitate the creation and implementation of an integrated, comprehensive, and collaborative system of information and services to enhance optimal early childhood development." This report provides policymakers and others with working information…

Applicable to any school district or school interested in starting a family resource and support program, this guide provides help for both planning and implementation of family resource and youth services centers. It outlines the philosophy behind family resource and youth services centers and how that philosophy is to be reflected in all aspects…

One effective way schools can involve family members in the important process of motivating children to read is with a family reading night. This kit is designed to streamline the process of implementing a family reading night in schools. The kit begins with success stories from several schools using family reading nights. It then presents the…

The manual covers the design and implementation of respite care services for families with developmentally disabled members. An introductory chapter examines the concept of respite care, notes the benefits for families, providers, and community residential programs, and places the service as one part of a comprehensive array of family support…

This manual is a guide for those who are planning preventive/restorative family service programs to provide alternatives to placing children in state foster care systems. Chapter I briefly discusses the rationale for family-centered social services. Objectives, characteristics, and advantages of these services are listed. Planning and…

This booklet is intended as an introductory guide to community-based rehabilitation (CBR) services in developing nations. The first section examines the magnitude of the problem; the failure of existing services to meet this challenge; and the need for a model appropriate to developing countries. The second section briefly describes the CBR…

The manual is based on experience with a program developed by the Volunteers in Partnership with Parents Project (VIPP), in which volunteers were used as partners to families with young handicapped children. Preparation factors are considered, including planning for specific tasks of volunteers and providing adequate training to the staff. The…

Guidelines based on Project Head Start performance standards are offered for persons interested in starting and operating a home-based child development program providing individualized family services through home visits. Opening sections of the manual sensitize prospective service providers to problems and positive outcomes of home-based…

Developed to provide assistance in the building of an effective home-based program for Head Start children and their families, this handbook may serve as a blueprint for parent-focused home visits that assist the child and family to meet their special needs. Chapter one focuses on the home visitation model for providing services to families and…

Institutions have been slow to respond to changes in family life, and service delivery has mostly been limited to responding to crises and to treating problems. Family resource and support programs began emerging in the 1970s to fill parents' expressed need for more support. As part of this trend, the federal Family Preservation and Support…

Federal regulations have set forth specific performance standards for the provision of services for children with disabilities in Head Start programs. These regulations provide state and local education agencies and Head Start grantees with unique opportunities to collaborate to provide comprehensive, family-centered, and appropriate services to…

This article offers guidelines for designing inservice education for personnel working with young children with disabilities and their families. Discussion covers definitions, assumptions, support and start up, initial planning, program design, evaluation, implementation, and follow-up. It identifies special considerations and circumstances…