This paper describes a project which is attempting to strengthen existing mental health programs and develop new forms of support for rural children, since current programs are limited by a scarcity of funds, trained personnel, and supportive services. The setting of the project is a three-county area in Southwestern Pennsylvania which has been…

The Healthy Steps for Young Children program is a national initiative developed by pediatricians from Boston University in collaboration with professionals from the Commonwealth Fund. This program for families with young children (birth to 3 years of age) provides developmentally--oriented services within pediatric primary care through addition of…

Youth work is a field that has moved from a sole focus on the treatment of youth problems to their prevention, and more recently, the promotion of normal, healthy development. Concurrent with this trend to a more comprehensive approach to youth services (one that serves a continuum from promotion to prevention to short- and long-term treatment)…

Several years ago intermediaries in Boston were challenged to build a continuum of training around a shared set of competencies for those who work with young people ages five to twenty-two during the out-of-school-time hours. After receiving a few small planning grants, local intermediaries teamed up with large youth-serving organizations to…

In January 2004, the National Collaboration for Youth approved a list of core competencies needed by entry-level youth development workers for effective youth development practice. This chapter provides an overview of these competencies, explaining why and how the list was created, outcomes, and recommendations for next steps. (Contains 13 notes.)

Community-based parenting education programs have a unique role to play in the promotion of infant mental health. In contrast to classes that seek to accelerate child development, the author describes enrichment programs that promote parent-child bonding and healthy social and emotional development. The ParentSource program was developed on the…

Describes a program of early mental health services intervention for younger elementary school students who demonstrate moderate to severe behavioral and/or emotional problems. (Author/DB)

Six papers focus on aspects of the Macomb (Illinois) 0-3 Regional Project, a rural home based program to assist parents and their handicapped and high risk infants and toddlers. The first paper discusses the role and operation of home visits, with emphasis on the functions of the child development specialist (CDS). The second paper describes the…

Head Start's 15 years of service are reviewed and future recommendations are presented in this report requested by the President of the United States. The program's successes include: (1) providing health care services to the poor; (2) effecting long-lasting educational gains for children; (3) fostering parent involvement; (4) promoting the career…

This guide to the Child Development Specialist (CDS) Program of the Oregon public schools is intended for districts considering the establishment of CDS programs of their own. Suggestions for establishing a program are drawn from experiences of primary-grade pilot projects in six Oregon school districts. The essence of the CDS Program is…

This monograph provides an account of the work done in the village placement project of the Department of Child Development of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India from 1976-77 to 1984-85. Chapter 1 offers an overview of major problems of children and women in India. It emphasizes the need for rural development programs and the…

Presents 11 articles devoted to the application of primary prevention tactics and strategies in elementary and secondary school systems. Describes specific programs and reviews research related to positive student development and the prevention of emotional and learning problems. Discusses the role of counselors, teachers, and other professional…