The purpose of this study was to describe community partners' (CPs) perceptions of an out-of-school swimming program (OSSP) for under­served children and youth. Participants were four CPs associated with the OSSP during three consecutive summers and parents of the children and youth who participated in the program. We employed a theoretical…

Academics from diverse disciplines are recognizing not only the procedural ethical issues involved in research, but also the complexity of everyday "micro" ethical issues that arise. While ethical guidelines are being developed for research in aboriginal populations and low-and-middle-income countries, multi-partnered research…

The rate of early childhood overweight and obesity in the United States has increased significantly over the last 30 years. The psychosocial risks of potential stigmatization and discrimination in an overweight child can cause low-esteem and/or reduced school performance. Overweight and obese children also face the increased health risks…

This article reveals the nature of actions, discussions and relationships which helped forge school-community partnerships for engaged student learning and wider community participation for students and families living under difficult socio-economic circumstances. Specifically, the article draws upon interviews with key personnel and staff…

Despite ongoing equity initiatives, there is still a clear discrepancy in regards to access to higher education for potential students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper reports on an action research initiative that has developed a model of engaged outreach as an alternative approach to traditional university outreach. Engaged…

This study examined the types of activities offered through Girl Neighborhood Power (GNP) and the extent to which low-income girls reported positive experiences and outcomes related to psychological, social, behavioral, and academic adjustment. Four communities implemented federally funded GNP programs, which provided various activities and…

African American youth, although they comprise only 6% of the U.S. population, rank first for incarceration and homicide. In West Tennessee, the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County Report indicated that African American male youths were likely to become delinquent early in the second grade, were six times as likely to be referred on…

In 1970, the U.S. Office of Education, through the Bureau of Educational Personnel Development, initiated a program promoting community-school collaboration, which was called the Urban/Rural School Development Program. Designed to train educational personnel at a small number of schools in low-income communities characterized by student…

The impact of variables such as personal affiliation with a community program and degree of local autonomy on resident perspectives, specifically those pertaining to community feelings, issues of efficacy, and community control, are examined in order to provide the target populations attitudes and perceptions. This paper intends to demonstrate the…

"Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development: Lessons and Voices from the Field," published by the Forum in partnership with the Urban Libraries Council, captures key challenges and lessons learned from an innovative, four-year initiative sponsored by the Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds that awarded six million dollars to nine…

The report describes the development and operation of a communal laundry center, or housewife club in Netivot, Israel which provides laundry facilities, a social meeting place, and a variety of classes and services for users. The proposal for the club grew out of the difficulties facing the district social welfare bureau in solving the laundry…