While nature center's missions often point to connecting people to nature in various ways, their potential to provide a broader array of services to their communities remains largely unexplored. To better understand the values local community members hold for nature centers, we conducted survey research around 16 centers in the United States.…

Background: Internationally adults with intellectual disability are largely cared for by their families, especially in low- to middle-income countries (LAMIC). Compared to high-income countries, little is known about their experiences in LAMIC such as South Africa. Methods: Focus group discussions were carried out with 37 family caregivers (FCGs)…

This article outlines the results of a qualitative study, which investigated the adult non-formal education and training (NFET) centre linkages with external role-players in providing post-training support for the employment of graduates. The concern that informed this article is that adults who face long-term unemployment remain unemployed after…

In focus groups, parents of both academically successful seventh-grade students and at-risk students (i.e., failing one or more classes, numerous behavioral referrals, and/or suspensions) in a rural middle school identified perceived barriers to student success as well as school and community resources for overcoming those barriers. Qualitative…

Background: Inpatient beds for the psychiatric assessment and treatment of young people (under the age of 18 years) with intellectual disability have become scarce although there is pressure to redevelop them. In the UK, 63% of the NHS beds are at Prudhoe Hospital. This study examines their role and utility in relation to community services, both…

Presented are two reports concerning services for deaf individuals at the post secondary level. The first report details community social services available to deaf persons in Baltimore and Washington D.C. metropolitan areas. Information is provided on 15 types of services, including information and referral agencies, speech and hearing centers,…

This study applied a systems-based theoretical framework for analyzing community functioning to investigate differences in the functioning of a black and white community and to determine whether apparent deficits in the black community may be attributed to institutional racism. Data consisted of an inventory of existing community resources and a…

This study examined the use of community resources and supports outside of formal infant/toddler and preschool programs for children with disabilities participating in early intervention programs in nine communities in three states (Colorado, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania). Data on community resource utilization were gathered for 16 months from…

Assessed in this paper is the contribution of local facilities and services to the stability of urban neighborhoods within the broader economic and social parameters which characterize them. (Author/EB)

To describe how Partnership for Rural Improvement (PRI) field program associates perceive themselves performing their role functions, three associates and two assistants responded to questions about: their tasks, responsibilities, and roles; how they got started; what skills they needed; and what materials or technical assistance could benefit…

The economic solvency of Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) is a problem that needs immediate attention. In order to study the shift in funding sources for the 40 Community Services Boards (CSBs) which administer the 114 CMHCs in Virginia, the funding sources of CMHCs, and the fee collections of the CSBs, were examined. Data revealed that…

Conducted as a step toward developing a philosophy of community-wide services to bring the county's citizens and their libraries closer together, this community analysis is divided into two parts, the first focusing on the community, and the second on the public library system. The first section covers the following topics: locale and environment,…

Analysis of 12 interagency collaboration projects conducted by the Hispanic Program of the Worcester (Massachusetts) Youth Guidance Center reveals how this unorthodox method of service delivery can increase resources to U.S. Hispanic populations and identifies factors which hinder or facilitate the success of such projects. (SB)

Documenting the impact of 1978-79 Community Resource Development (CRD) projects, this national study presents data in response to a congressional mandate calling for assessment of the consequences and effectiveness of Community Resource Development projects. The report presents findings derived from questionnaires sent to 47 state CRD leaders, 120…

A 1979-1980 nation-wide study of 113 Community Resource Development (CRD) projects evaluated socio-economic impacts, as seen by CRD staff, state leaders, and knowledgeable citizens. Questionnaires were sent to the three groups to determine consequences of the programs in the categories of family income, community facilities and services, public…