The Families Forward Demonstration (FFD) examined new strategies to increase the earnings of parents who owe child support but are unable to fully meet their obligations due to low earnings. It also focused on "responsive" child support services that helped parents understand their support obligations, and even suspended certain…

The Ohio comprehensive statewide study of vocational rehabilitation is reported. Attention is given to the study's philosophy and development as well as to Ohio's rehabilitation needs, program potential, variables affecting programs, and criteria for establishing priorities. Recommendations reviewed regard the state's Rehabilitation Services…

This report summarizes the activities conducted in 1994 in relation to the 23 recommendations included in Ohio's Action Agenda for Adult Literacy. The recommendations are grouped into the following categories: coordination/collaboration, public awareness, research, program resources and support, advocacy/funding, and accountability. Some of the…

To implement an action plan developed during an institute on building linkages for at-risk youth and adults through vocational technical education, a team of representatives from the Ohio Departments of Education and Human Services undertook three activities. First, a survey was sent to 832 Ohio educators and human services personnel to identify…

Service integration attempts to provide coordinated service delivery systems for the uncoordinated mix of programs such as income support programs (food stamps, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and employment, child care, child welfare, and training programs that exist at the local level throughout the United States by…

The rising number of individuals returning to communities from prison and jail represents one of the defining issues of time. Individuals reentering society face myriad challenges, not the least of which is securing viable employment; in addition, each individual has a unique set of experiences, needs and resources. This project stems from the…

This facilitator's guide is one of three documents recommended for use in the development of a local level linkage system for the referral of severely handicapped students from education to rehabilitation. Introductory materials include a discussion of right versus entitlement and overview of the facilitator's role. The first section provides a…

The upward economic flux of Pike County is having a dramatic impact on the traditional morals and values held by the established community. Drug availability has increased proportionately with improved highway systems, accessibility of money, and increasing numbers of youth with their own cars. Although 75% of the population live in isolated…

Designed to assist administrators in identifying relevant issues, this report is one of three documents recommended for use in the development of a local level linkage system for the referral of severely handicapped students from education to rehabilitation. It presents materials from four regional meetings at which parents, administrators,…

Describes the two basic program development methods used in a parent education project of the Franklin County (Ohio) Children Services: (1) program development by local planning committees from specific suburban, rural, and urban geographical areas, and (2) construction of predesigned programs for parents who are clients of the agency. (MF)

This investigation provides a model for at-risk youth community agencies to tailor their programs to fit the specific needs of their local out-of-school youth. Using a needs-based assessment, baseline data were gathered on Cleveland African Americans (N = 187) to pinpoint academic strengths and deficits, career interests, and life-skill needs. The…

Developed from the Ohio At-Risk Linkage Team experiences, this guide assists local communities in organizing and strengthening effective collaborative interagency linkage teams for at-risk youth and adults. The guide proposes a series of steps, poses a number of questions relating to each step, and provides information about additional resources.…

Project INTERACT was designed to develop a local model linkage system, an interagency effort between the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC) and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), Division of Special Education (DSE) to improve the joint delivery of services to severely handicapped students. It was also intended to design and/or…

This newsletter issue reviews the research and literature on issues and best practices in programs to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities to adult life. First, the definition of transition services under the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is presented and explained. Next, a…

This guide for parents and professionals is one of three documents recommended for use in the development of a local level linkage system for the referral of severely handicapped students from education to rehabilitation. An introductory section includes a discussion of right versus entitlement. The first section provides general information…