This text is designed to accompany a series of slides that present information on Missouri's attempts to reduce minority infant mortality. In Missouri, the rate of black infant mortality is twice that for whites, and blacks are twice as likely as whites to be born with low birthweight. Only 64.9 percent of black women receive prenatal care in the…

The paper summarized the rationale for early intervention programs and describes the major components of the Project WISP (Wyoming Infant Stimulation Program) center-based program for handicapped young children (18-36 months). Early intervention for handicapped children is justified from five points-of-view: prevention of failure during subsequent…

This paper describes the philosophy and procedures of an educational intervention program with high risk infants which is part of the Infant Studies Project at UCLA. The intervention is directed specifically at providing mothers of such infants with techniques, practices, and observation skills which enhance maternal ability. High risk infants are…

This paper describes the Family Development Research Program, a program combining quality infant day care services with a home visitation component. Particular emphasis in this paper is on the day care center curriculum. Primary goals of the program are: (1) the design and maintenance of optimal environments which nourish an infant's development…

The paper describes the T.O.T.E. (Teach Our Tots Early) Infant/Toddler Intervention Program to provide educational programing for handicapped children from birth to age 3 years. Sections address the following program components: program development, delivery model (primarily home-based), staffing, population (southeast Wayne County, Michigan),…

The paper describes Project RHISE (Rockford Handicapped Infant Services Expansion), a program to develop an effective early intervention program for infants residing in the lower socioeconomic areas and rural communities of Rockford, Illinois. Sections address a description of the model, rationale for the model, and theoretical aspects of the…

Two infant stimulation programs - for Down's Syndrome and hearing impaired children - in Montgomery County, Maryland, are described. Referral, initial assessment, development of individualized education program, and use of learning activities with the Down's infants are discussed along with intervention rationale, parent role, and child…

Presented is the script for a slide tape description of the Margaret Harris Center in DeKalb County, Georgia, a noncategorical program for moderately and severely handicapped infants and children. (CL)

Using the same approach of family involvement and empowerment that has guided Head Start, Early Head Start offers its services to pregnant women and children, birth to age 3. One of the characteristics that differentiates Early Head Start from traditional Head Start is the mandate to offer full-day, full-year services to infants and toddlers. The…

The Wyoming Infant Stimulation Program (WISP) provides a comprehensive preschool program utilizing both center-based and home-based intervention for handicapped preschool children (age 0-3 years) and their families in rural Wyoming. A developmental-prescriptive model is used and the curriculum objective is that each child will progress according…

Using two cases as the basis of exploration, this article discusses (1) the impact of pregnancy during adolescence on the development of the young girl and her offspring and (2) the influences of her extended family. It also explores the concept of adolescent/infant development as a means of providing comprehensive services to pregnant…

This paper describes the Family Development Project which is aimed at developing a systematic model of parenting support for new families and evaluating its effects on family development. The project focuses on Parenting Groups consisting of 6 to 10 couples who meet together as soon after delivery as possible, weekly for 6 weeks, and monthly for 4…

This paper examines the needs of adolescent mothers and their infants and describes innovative programs designed to meet those needs. It discusses characteristics of adolescent mothers, including their educational level, their obstetric performance, their parenting practices, and the socioeconomic consequences of early parenthood. The paper then…

This paper reports the progress of an ongoing clinical research project on prevention services for at risk infants of mentally ill mothers. This project extends the prevention focus of early education programs into the mental health field. Previous research findings indicate that maximum preventive effects are achieved when programs (a) begin…

The Parent Infant Resource Systems program at the Lexington School for the Deaf (Jackson Heights, NY) provides intensive coursework and hands on experiences for professionals concerned with the needs of hearing impaired and/or multiply handicapped hearing impaired infants and their families. One of the training activities, a 6 week training…