In this second annual summary of the their work, the Investing in Community Initiative provides practical advice for community leaders and policymakers around four critical issues. First, how should local needs be defined? Chapter 1 argues that data about local economies can show whether communities are best served by creating new jobs,…

The continuing shortage of agricultural education instructors has been documented across the state and nation. Secondary instructor retention may help reduce the shortage and position changes each year. Identifying the challenges facing beginning teachers as perceived by beginning teachers, veteran teachers, and building administrators can help…

As of January 1, 2013, 34 states and the District of Columbia have been granted waivers from certain provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Part of each successful flexibility application was a state accountability system that could identify priority schools (the lowest performing 5% of Title 1 schools) and focus schools…

Given the prevalence of alcohol and other drug abuse and violence on campuses and in communities, programs and coalitions developed to prevent or intervene in these problems are faced with a challenging and long-term task. While the development of coalitions or campus-based prevention programs is a healthy start, these efforts must be sustained…

Today's undergraduates approach research with needs and expectations that challenge traditional library services. The foundation for leading an effective response is the ability to assess undergraduate needs and translate these needs into tangible strategic initiatives that contribute to student academic success. This paper describes the…

Objective: This study attempts to uncover barriers to participation in a marital enrichment program that had been expected to be attractive to eligible couples. Method: Work products associated with a multiyear demonstration project were subjected to ethnographic analysis. Results: Eligible couples did not see congruence between the program's…

In response to a Congressional request, the General Accounting Office studied the process that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses to select projects for the homeless for funding, whether this process is consistent with statutes and community priorities, whether communities face any common problems when applying for HUD…

This community-based participatory research (CBPR) project utilized a mixed-methods survey design to identify urban (Tulsa, OK) American Indian (AI) strengths and needs. Six hundred fifty AIs (550 adults and 100 youth) were surveyed regarding their attitudes and beliefs about their community. These results were used in conjunction with other…

This guide, largely a product of the Language and Orientation Resource Center's (LORC) "Working Session on Program Development for Refugee Women," is a resource for use by refugees and by persons and organizations working with refugees. The main part of the guide is divided into five sections: (1) an introduction to recent attention to them, and a…

An increasingly popular economic development tool to improve the success rate of new firms is the small business incubator. These are buildings in which a number of new or growing businesses can locate and operate at a much lower overhead cost than in conventional space where market rates prevail. Incubator facilities are characterized by access…

Speeches on six major topics at a conference designed to assist school districts in the development of comprehensive inservice teacher education programs are presented: (1) planning (Sam Yarger); (2) collaboration (Jerry Ciccheli); (3) conducting needs assessments (Patricia M. Kay); (4) effective delivery systems (LaMar P. Miller); (5) creative…

This document presents reports of three 1983 workshops held at Clark College in Atlanta on the needs of the elderly on the southside of Atlanta. The first workshop focused on the needs of the elderly in the areas of resources, housing and public safety, transportation, support groups and self-help, nutrition, and church involvement. The second…

This conference proceedings reports on a 1989 meeting addressing respite care for families of children with mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. The conference addressed: (1) respite care concepts, programs, and issues; and (2) planning for designing, financing, and implementing state and local respite programs. The report contains the…

Intended for state legislators seeking recommendations for improving arts education in Minnesota elementary and secondary schools, this executive summary presents (1) an historical perspective of comprehensive arts planning grants authorized by Minnesota statutes between 1973 and 1984; (2) needs assessment results, including findings of the…

Information for planning a university-sponsored Alaska Native leadership program was derived from a literature review and a review of leadership programs outside Alaska coupled with in-depth interviews with identified Native leaders (N=10 from a list of 90). Among the kinds of programs examined were: a leadership development program; the cultural…