Globally, there is great interest in enhancing young children's literacy development as a route to improving worldwide literacy. To contribute to this area of interest, this paper reports findings from a multi-pronged early-literacy program designed to improve the print-knowledge of young children in Yucatec Mayan villages. The school-based…

Globally, malnutrition is an issue that has never been overcome, even after a series of efforts by experts, which have never been impressive. The world's malnutrition burden remains unsatisfactory since malnutrition is solely responsible for more illnesses than other reasons. Malnutrition continues to be a significant problem in Malaysia. The most…

Background: Physical activity (PA) is linked to many health benefits. However, many children and adults do not meet PA recommendations. Specifically, Mexican-heritage (MH) families are less physically active and at greater risk for obesity and related co-morbidities than the general population. Culturally-tailored programs are needed to support MH…

Because fathers are clearly important to family well-being, including fathers in services for families seems a straightforward idea. How hard can it be? Yet across health, education, and welfare services it is still mothers who attend and engage on behalf of their infants and children. The Family Action Centre, located on the east coast of…

This dual case study utilizes qualitative research methods to examine the experiences of two mothers of young children with special needs. Over the course of ten months, the researcher spent many hours interviewing both mothers about their experiences with Early Intervention (EI) professionals. Observations of medical appointments, team meetings,…

The family is a system affecting each member directly and indirectly. This study examines the effect on the family when mother returns to graduate studies. This study also focuses attention on the child's report of how mother's returning to school affects the parents and the child. In the current study four women commencing studies for their…

Described is a parent sponsored preschool formed by 10 mothers of handicapped children who could not obtain child care assistance elsewhere. (GW)

The following papers were delivered at a symposium on improving the nutritional status of a child who is chronically ill or handicapped: (1) "Planning Comprehensive Health Services for the Chronically Ill/Handicapped Child; (2) "Future National Directions in Maternal and Child Health"; (3) "Nutrition Services in a State Crippled Children's…

Hearings were held to: (1) receive "Healthy Children: Investing in the Future," an Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) study on cost-effective strategies for improving the health of mothers and children; and (2) consider reauthorization of the Federal Family Planning Program (FFPP), Title X of the Public Health Service Act. This…

To assess consistency between maternal and professional assessment of child performance, 31 mothers of disabled children (6-36 months old) participating in an intervention program completed measures of infant development, behavior, and characteristics. Maternal and staff assessments were found to be highly similar. Implications for programs are…

Project ESPIRIT (Educational System in Parenting for the Retarded with Infants and Toddlers) has provided home based services to 25 at risk children of mentaly retarded parents. Assessments performed at home are followed by development of individualized educational programs for both child and parent. Suggestions are given for establishing such a…

This paper provides a description and analysis of the development, implementation, and continuing framework of practice for a model of comprehensive, coordinated maternal and child health programs in which traditional maternal and child health services are provided by a local county health department while family planning and related services are…

Affluent mothers of preschoolers (n=85) expressed strong interest in most of the parent education topics in an extension survey. Their interests were largely similar to those of parents from other socioeconomic groups. They were more interested in changes in personal identity/role and in issues related to having partners in high power/high…

Describes Fox Valley Center, near Chicago, which combined traditional camp with social work interventions. Describes camp activities as encouraging interaction between young and old people of different races. Describes program focusing on mothers and their children. Details program evaluation procedure. Suggests areas of program outgrowth. (TES)

Parent attitudes and effects of parent participation were studied for workshops for professionals trying to become more family-focused in early intervention programs for children with disabilities. Thirty professionals and six mothers participated. Parent presence influenced the extent to which professionals perceived a need for change in program…