As researchers and teachers, we have particular beliefs about the world and how it works, and about classrooms and how they work. Borg notes that "beliefs colour memories with their evaluation and judgment, and serve to frame our understanding of events" (Borg, 2001, p. 187). When already qualified teachers, in a TESOL graduate program,…

Purpose: We estimate the independent contribution of crime victimization to nursing home placement in a cohort of older adults who were community dwelling at baseline. Design and Methods: The data come from an observational cohort study of 2,321 community-residing older adults who were members of the New Haven Established Populations for…

Studies the type and severity of maladaptive behavior in foster children as perceived by 58 foster parents. Results indicate that foster children as a group exhibit significantly more serious behavior problems than do nonfoster children. (RJC)

The demographic characteristics, life histories, and current placements of dually diagnosed elderly persons (n=27) was obtained by reviewing 132 case records of a Los Angeles regional center for developmentally disabled persons. Approximately 20 percent of the total sample were dually diagnosed and the most common mental health diagnosis was…

This study of the forms and functions of expressive communication produced by 84 children and adults with severe mental retardation found significant differences among participants associated with differences in their communication levels (contact gesture, distal gesture, or symbolic), age (child or adult), and residential status (community home…

Describes a systematic approach to recruitment of prospective adoptive families for children with developmental disabilities. The recruitment methodology, preliminary conclusions, and implications for future recruitment of families are presented. (Author/RWB)

A three-step assessment and quantification procedure is described that determines the goodness-of-fit (congruence) between a person's behavioral capabilities and setting-specific performance requirements. Concurrent validity and correlational data are presented, as well as potential uses of the Goodness-of-Fit Index (GOFI) procedure. (Author/JW)

Examination of friendships in 51 high-risk preschool-age children, of whom 38 were in foster care, found that most of the children had a "best friend" but the foster children all had friends who were quasi-siblings. Results suggest that foster care placement and the presence of siblings may influence a child's interactions with nonrelated peers.…

Analysis of the functional and personal characteristics of 336 persons with mental retardation living in 181 small, specialized foster care homes and group homes found some differences in resident characteristics across facility type, including communication and toileting skills, age, and mobility. (Author/DB)

This study, with 61 Israeli parents of children with developmental disabilities, found that parental inclination to apply for out-of-home placement was a function of stress levels, sense of coherence, and social support received from formal and informal resources. (Author/DB)

This study surveyed college placement directors and senior college administrators as part of a project to develop a model career planning and placement program. The survey instrument for placement directors requested information on research activity, campus-based programing, and basic demographic data. The senior college administrator survey…

Presents the results of a survey of internship activities in educational technology programs in the United States. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding requirements, intern placement, student participation, internship characteristics, and evaluation methods. (Author/LRW)

This study compared the characteristics, health, and functioning parameters of 78 children with substantiated maltreatment in an urban foster care program. Compared to nonmaltreated controls, children sexually abused while in care were significantly more likely to have mental health and developmental problems. Physical abuse and neglect while in…

Although the effectiveness of home-based, behaviorally-oriented treatment programs with the elderly and their families has been well documented, assessment of caregivers' attitudes toward those programs remains rare. To assess the relationship between outcome measures and client and principal caregiver characteristics, 21 client-caregiver dyads,…

This study found that accuracy in predicting the out-of-home placement of children with severe disabilities increased little in a large cross-sectional sample (n=5,992) over a smaller semilongitudinal sample (n=141). Factors such as age, adaptive and maladaptive behavior, and ethnicity are discussed. (Author/JDD)