Findings from a study of more than 200 families with adopted children yield valuable insights into the reasons why adoptive relationships collapse and what factors agencies should consider in matching children and families to avoid disruption. (Author/BB)

The paper presents a proposal for the addition of a specialized adoption agency for sexually abused children and youth to current services of a residential group home. The proposal resulted from the lack of appropriate families for children completing the Agency's Preparation for Adoption Program. Evidence suggested placements have been hindered…

This manual is a guide for those who are planning preventive/restorative family service programs to provide alternatives to placing children in state foster care systems. Chapter I briefly discusses the rationale for family-centered social services. Objectives, characteristics, and advantages of these services are listed. Planning and…

Interviews with 137 primary caregivers with developmentally disabled family members (ages 2-62) on waiting lists for out-of-home placement found that caregiver stress was a significant predictor of the urgency of placement need. Behavior problems of the disabled person were almost as important. Lack of support services was correlated with…

This guide for school district administrators answers question about Even Start, a new, special family-centered compensatory education program funded under Chapter 1 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 that combines adult literacy, parent education, and early childhood education. The following issues about program design are…

The final report describes The Realistic Transition Project, a 3-year project designed to help mildly handicapped 17 to 21-year-olds in the transition from school to competitive employment. Social skills necessary for seeking and maintaining employment and money management skills were two important curriculum components. Specific objectives and…

This paper proposes and discusses, from a management point of view, application of specific outcome measurements to residential programs for mentally retarded persons and those experiencing long term mental health problems. These include: rate of restraint and seclusion; percentage of compliance with applicable standards; absenteeism/leave time…

This paper presents the results of a search for an appropriate test of critical thinking to screen college freshmen. The search for an appropriate test of critical thinking was initiated in the Fall 1995 semester at an open-admissions comprehensive university, which normally assigns entering freshmen with ACT composite scores of 17 or less to…

This manual provides guidance on using the consultation method to help meet the needs of families of children with disabilities in integrated community-based day care settings. The introductory section provides an overview, a statement of philosophy, the history of the day care consultation program in Illinois, and instructions for using the…

This report highlights the steps that colleges and universities in Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states are taking to reduce the need for remedial college courses, addressing the following issues: who needs remedial education; how many students entering college need remedial courses; whether state policies on college-level assessment…