If their money and other assets are used effectively, voluntary organizations have an impact far beyond their proportionate size. The United States needs effective governments and a strong voluntary sector, but it will have neither if national leaders do not understand the differences in their functions. (Author/JOW)

Just as voluntary agencies cannot function adequately without help from the government, the public system has failed to function adequately without the assistance of voluntary agencies. Public and voluntary resources should be organized into a coordinated accountable system that would assist families with the wide range of services necessary for…

The National Council of La Raza applauds the recent efforts of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to increase its overall effectiveness by changing its organizational structure, modernizing its information systems, and improving its public image. However, in a number of important areas, the INS still faces grave problems. While…

Focuses on three aspects of welfare services to families: (1) time or duration of service; (2) service content or methods; and (3) the use of contracting to structure service. (Author/MP)

Reviews the role of accreditation in American higher education and shortcomings related to its inconsistency and lack of rigor. Discusses the 1996 creation of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to oversee accreditation activities. Describes CHEA's organizational structure and analyzes its impact on accreditation and educational…

A study examined local U.S. Employment Service (ES) office placement performance and the role of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in guiding and monitoring state and local ES program performance. Regression and other statistical methods were used to analyze state and local program performance based on the following: placement data for…

In this assessment of federal legislation and programs affecting coordination of services to people with disabilities, actions are addressed which can lead to a more comprehensive and coherent service delivery system. Past coordinative efforts have attempted to resolve problems occurring at both the policy level and in program administration.…

Provides discussions of the effectiveness of the North Central Association's accreditation process by representatives of accredited institutions. Includes 16 narratives related to the candidacy and self-study processes and such benefits of the accreditation process as a better-informed campus community, a clarified mission, and the rectification…

Examines the challenges posed by distance education for accrediting agencies in their attempts to credibly evaluate the quality of education at member institutions. Provides a list of effective practices in distance education, a discussion of the accrediting criteria needed for distance education, and some suggestions for future development. (MAB)

The National Endowment for the Humanities is criticized for not providing greater leadership both within the government and among potential sources of private financial support for the humanities. (MSE)

Child advocates have succeeded in getting child abuse recognized as a serious social problem requiring governmental response. Ironically, this success now threatens the viability of child abuse programs: 65 percent of all reports are ultimately dismissed. This flood of unfounded reports violates parental rights and overwhelms the limited resources…

It is argued that despite the decline of the humanities in higher education in the 20 years since the National Endowment for the Humanities came into existence, the agency has probably done much to promote the humanities and prevent further decline. (MSE)

To establish a productive program of collaboration, a continuing education agency must (1) identify resources it desires from the environment, (2) identify compatible partners that can supply these resources and that need what the continuing education program can offer, and (3) consummate the relationship. (SK)

A Public Health Service's demonstration project brought together four historically black colleges and universities, public funding, and professional research administrator expertise to determine the impact of establishing a campus-sponsored research office. The program was found successful and may be useful for other small and midsized…

Compares auditing with evaluation research in terms of foci, independence, quality control, and professionalism of program evaluation practitioners. Indicates that if policymakers do not consider what they expect from evaluations and incorporate expectations into requests for evaluations, practitioners will make the decisions for them. (JOW)