Background: Children and youth with autism spectrum disorder have significant, multi-system needs that require supports, such as the autism waiver (AW) service delivery model. This study aimed to identify and describe characteristics of the AW, define obstacles and strengths in the provision of adequate services and provide recommendations for…

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a soft skills employee training program. We examined willingness to learn and delivery methods (face-to-face vs. online) and their associations with the training outcomes in terms of learning and behavioral change. Results showed that neither participants' willingness to learn nor delivery…

There is a need to implement a comprehensive training program to build employees' knowledge, skills, and attitudes in order to improve quality service at ABC Restaurant because of a surge in customer complaints. The purpose of this study was to develop a training program that included an employee handbook as a training tool, a handbook designed…

Successfully preparing frontline counseling staff in an integrated student services model is a challenge--one that management staff in One Stop Student Services at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) have been fine-tuning for almost ten years. The effort has required collaboration across units in a series of trial and error attempts…

This evaluation study examined the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the statewide master plan for professional development (PD Master Plan) by investigating seven questions. With regard to effectiveness, (1) What was the level of implementation for the PD Master Plan, overall and by individual providers? (2) What were the impediments, if…

High-quality care in the earliest years of life has been shown to relate to positive developmental outcomes for children, including improved early academic skills, social-emotional competencies, and cognitive functioning. Unfortunately, the early care experiences of many children are not always high quality; rather, research suggests that…

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of public school leaders about principal leadership for special education in ten leadership categories: understanding law and policy, using data to improve teacher performance, using data to improve student performance, creating an inclusive culture, collaborating with families,…

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of non-formal education and training in the organizational change process of Civil society organizations (CSOs) in post war Liberia. CSOs are the local foundation for democracy and development in Liberia, and serve a wide range of roles in local communities. For example, in post-war Liberia,…

A model for staff development called "Staff Development/Organizational Development" (Wood/Thompson/Russell, 1981) describes a process for designing inservice that is systematic and comprehensive. The model was developed through an analysis and synthesis of the literature and research related to staff development. This paper briefly describes the…

Describes and evaluates a model for agency-based staff development training for a county mental health unit. Concludes it can be a useful way to identify and resolve problems. (Author/MCF)

This paper identifies a number of factors that staff developers should consider in planning an effective program. A staff development program is considered to be effective if teachers adapt the material or content learned into their classrooms and retain the implementation over time, if teachers and administrators express satisfaction with the…

This staff delivery policy study was initiated by the legislature and governor in response to a steady escalation in the number and costs of staff development programs in the California public schools. The report is based on four main data sources: (1) descriptions of local patterns of staff development; (2) teacher and administrator surveys; (3)…

A description is given of the development of a training model designed to provide assistance to school districts in exploring and implementing programs for dealing with high risk students. The program activities are organized and modeled according to thirteen "quality practices" suggested by exemplary programs in the literature and research on…

The report summarizes achievements of a 3 year project to provide continuing education to speech-language-hearing clinicians and special education personnel via a speaker telephone. Committees were formed in each participating district to plan for staff development based on local needs. Consultants chosen to present training were asked to mail any…

An instrument was developed to obtain data relevant to why minorities with developmental disabilities drop out of the service delivery system in Wisconsin. The questionnaire, after being pre-tested and revised, was sent to agencies, organizations, and schools, and to individuals with developmental disabilities who agreed to participate in the…