A systematic review explored the creation and maintenance of community coalitions as effective for alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention in adolescence. Community coalitions influence the implementation of effective and sustainable community-based prevention via infrastructure supporting development, delivery, and assessment of human service…

Over the past three decades, transition practices research has demonstrated that post-school outcomes of students with disabilities improve when educators, families, students, and community members and organizations work together to implement a broad perspective of transition planning, more appropriately referred to as transition-focused…

This paper presents a summary of systems change research as it applies to planning comprehensive early childhood service systems. It explains the inter-agency model developed by the Collaborative Planning Project for Planning Comprehensive Early Childhood Systems at the University of Colorado. The model attempts to address system issues such as…

Describes the general characteristics of family support programs in North America. Summarizes the rationale for such programs. Describes an example of a support program, the family resource centers in Canada. Outlines such key planning considerations as the diversity of today's families, needs assessment, program variety, and cultural relevance.…

An evaluation paradigm which describes interagency coordination as a multidimensional (climate, resources, policies, people, and process), interactional, and developmental effort is presented for use in special education as a: training tool for those involved in coordination efforts; guide for developing and evaluating interagency coordination…

This monograph, one of a series on youth with disabilities and the juvenile justice system, focuses on the need for collaboration between the juvenile justice system and youth serving agencies. It begins with a discussion of the categorical, fragmented, and uncoordinated services that currently exist and describes collaboration as a viable option…

State education agencies are in increasing agreement regarding the basic principles that should underlie state educational assessment programs, though some areas of divergent opinion remain. The agencies generally accept the ideas that comparisons between states will be made, that assessment programs should serve multiple purposes, that meaningful…

The village center model is designed to eliminate fragmented social service delivery problems in rural areas. The Whole Village Project at Plymouth, New Hampshire, offers interagency collaboration, local control and leadership, and increased client access to family and child services. Alternative strategies are outlined for development of similar…

Supported employment opportunities can help to meet the transition needs of individuals enrolled in special education programs. A review of related literature discusses characteristics of supported employment program participants, the need for individual transition planning, the school's role and responsibility, vocational planning, benefits,…

This 1-year project identified several goals to increase the awareness of chemical abuse among older women, older adults, and disabled people. The goals included: develop an assessment instrument; identify chemical health service providers; develop a process to coordinate outreach and case-finding; develop a guide for chemical health service…

This newsletter issue reviews the research and literature on issues and best practices in programs to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities to adult life. First, the definition of transition services under the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is presented and explained. Next, a…

Seven papers focus on issues in identification and educational program planning for children with emotional disturbances. "Social Policy Issues in Special Education and Related Services for Emotionally Disturbed Children and Youth" (J. Kauffman), touches on problems with the federal definition of and terminology about the emotionally…

Intended to help state planners understand and coordinate their program efforts, the guide provides an analysis of major federally funded programs for handicapped and at-risk children from birth to age 6. The following programs and their legislative authority are considered: Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act); The Early and Periodic…

The paper examines collaborative program development in participatory nonformal education, emphasizing the process of programming based on field experiences of the Center for International Education of the University of Massachusetts. The objective is to serve as an initial step in the development of collaborative programming theory and practice.…

This document is intended to be a resource for state, regional and local educators developing secondary credit exchange and accrual programs for migrant students. A brief discussion of migrant education programs and their work with secondary youth examines obstacles that migrant students face when attempting to complete their education. Document…