National shortages of qualified personnel in the field of early childhood special education are well documented, with shortages magnified in regions characterized by poverty and rural geography. This article provides an overview of the challenges faced and innovations implemented by an alternate-track, personnel preparation program in Appalachian…

The United States is becoming increasingly diverse with the largest growth in Hispanic populations. Diversity also is increasing in rural America. This diversity is reflected in the participants in early care and education programs and K-12 students. Unfortunately, demographics for college and university teacher education programs do not match…

Part of the Harvard Family Research Project's ongoing series of case studies that examine state-level policy and programs for families, this booklet reviews initiatives undertaken by the states of Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, and Missouri to support and educate families with young children. Each of the booklet's five sections…

Appalachian Leadership Outreach Health Program established community health centers in the homes of volunteers in 10 Kentucky communities. The cost has been nominal, and the advantages in transportion time and improved health awareness and care promise to help meet basic health needs of the rurally isolated. (JC)

The manual highlights the components of the parent involvement of the Project for Early Education of Exceptional Children (PEEEC), a demonstration project serving 3 to 8 year old children in Kentucky with multiple handicaps. Following an introduction on the philosophical/theoretical foundations of the PEEEC parent services model is a section on…

Five model projects for providing continuing education opportunities to teacher educators in special education are presented. Background for the development of Project RETOOL includes a 10 step outline of the process. Implementation was designed in three phases: needs assessment of current special education teacher educators, development of…

An experimental health-care delivery and teaching model, the health department-medical school affiliation, is described. Its conceptual basis and the affiliation agreement are reviewed and its impact is likened to that of the medical school-teaching hospital affiliation. The affiliation between the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and…

On a budget of $28,000, Child Protection, Inc. has a paid staff of an executive director, 4 foster grandparents, and 3 VISTA volunteers. But with the help of 157 volunteer servide providers, the organization is able to deliver 828 units of service monthly to rural Western Kentucky. The success of the volunteer program is based on recruiting from…

This report outlines the national and state environmental context for the SECCS Initiative in supporting MCH strategic planning in early childhood systems building. This strategic context has implications for roles, relationships, and activities within a planning process and ultimately an implementation process. It summarizes the opportunities and…