AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 men and women in intensive service each year at more than 21,000 locations including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they…

In partnership with the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR), the National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk (NDTAC) has developed a series of practice guides that provide concrete strategies for adopting the principles and practices discussed in the…

The costs of treating youth who sexually harm others can exceed $200,000 Australian (US$220,000) per annum when they are placed in a residential type facility in either Australia or North America. Following the financial meltdown of the past two years, North American based residential-style programs have found themselves under increasing financial…

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) provides a framework for achieving positive outcomes for youth and families served in residential and community programs. Founded on core principles, an emerging evidence base, and acknowledged best practices, the BBI emphasizes collaboration and coordination between providers, families, youth, advocates, and…

Sometimes it takes a child to raise a whole village. Young people have the gifts and talents to raise their villages. They lack only the confidence of their villages in them to do it. At Te Puna Whaiora Children's Health Camps in New Zealand, the approach to helping families reach their potential is radically changing the lives of many children…

At the Star Commonwealth School (Ohio) for troubled students, students and staff engage in a variety of community volunteer activities, typically with senior citizens, smaller children, and the handicapped. (SW)

This brief article presents data on trends in costs and numbers of recipients of Medicaid served by the Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation program and the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program. A table presents the data by state and a graph shows the increasing numbers of recipients and costs. (DB)

The article describes Benhaven, a residential program of group homes in Connecticut, which provides intensive programing for autistic and neurologically impaired children. Examined are the program's administration and management, treatment services, support services, and family and community involvement. (DB)

In 2003, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provided Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) with a $3.5 million grant to design and implement a faith- and community-based program for incarcerated juveniles. Florida's experience developing a completely new program has provided valuable lessons regarding…

The proceedings of this 1984 hearing presents recommendations to improve services for mentally retarded citizens. A report on conditions in intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded is followed by statements of Senators L. Weicker, Jr., J. Randolph, and R. Stafford and by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human…

This short report provides a brief description of a research project presenting an alternative approach to delinquency treatment. Achievement Place is a family-sized residential treatment home for predelinquent and delinquent youngsters. Six to eight boys, aged 12-16, live in a renovated house located in their own community. A specially trained…

A curriculum development model was formulated for training resident advisors (RAs) to work with developmentally disabled clients in small community homes. Overall findings suggested that the alternative living arrangement pilot training programs were highly effective in helping students acquire the knowledge and skills requisite to successful RA…

The paper describes the background and development of The Residential Facilities Worker Training Program, a 2-year degree program at Seattle Community College (Washington) to train staff persons to work in community based residential settings with developmentally disabled children, adolescents, and adults. Need for the program is discussed,…

The survey found that of the 1,389 mentally retarded persons living in community supervised residential settings in Southwestern Ontario, 49 percent received some type of psychoactive drug. Specifically, 23 percent received anticonvulsants; 14 percent, neuroleptics; 5 percent, sedative/hypnotics; 3 percent, antidepressants; 3 percent,…

The report, one of a series describing innovative practices in integrating people with disabilities into community life, describes the Gig Harbor (Washington) group home which serves five severely retarded adults. The home is staffed by five people, two teams and the Director, with each team living in the house on alternate weeks. Topics covered…