The Policy Practice in Field Initiative was created to seed innovation and develop new models for an integrated approach to enhance the policy skill set of all social work students regardless of specialization. Funds provided to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) are regranted to schools and programs of social work for field placement and…

A growing body of evidence has highlighted an association between a lack of access to nutritious, affordable food (e.g., through full-service grocery stores [FSGs]), poor diet, and increased risk for obesity. In response, there has been growing interest among policy makers in encouraging the siting of supermarkets in "food deserts," that…

The current study replicates work of Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands. It describes dropout prevention programs in nine Mid-Atlantic Region (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) school districts serving communities with populations of 24,742-107,250 (as of July 2008). All nine…

The current study replicates work of Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands. It describes dropout prevention programs in nine Mid-Atlantic Region (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) school districts serving communities with populations of 24,742-107,250 (as of July 2008). All nine…

Influencing and mentoring underachieving students is one mission of the Ambridge Area Community Learning Center in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Operating with a 3-year, $90,000 grant from Pittsburgh's Grable Foundation, the "lifelong" learning center offers classes, workshops, and services to all ages. (MLH)

At Pottstown (Pennsylvania) High School, educators and community members have formed a community action team that cultivates relationships with parents; honors students' achievement in academics, attendance, and citizenship; and strives to improve every student's performance. Home visits are used to jumpstart and conclude yearly efforts. (MLH)

Recounts a Pennsylvania community's reluctance and eventual approval of a new charter school. Considers political forces from a systems-design perspective; highlights the community involvement process as expressed in public hearings. Discusses reasons for resistance and legislative incentives to overcome it. Makes legislative recommendations. (MLH)

The Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) experience-based career education (EBCE) program was developed as an alternative program focusing on career exploration with the ultimate goal of career decusion making. Using two main curriculum documents ("Student Program Guide" and "Student Career Guide"), the program staff worked with each…

This preparation of the Temple-Philadelphia-Trenton Teacher Corps Program describes the use of the resources which are available to most colleges, universities, school systems, and communities to achieve the goals of technology in education--individualization and humanization. Staff deployment and characteristics (including intensity and diversity…