This document contains guidelines for social workers and other resource persons who are assisting self-help groups. It begins by defining the purpose of the resource person as meeting with group members on a consistent basis to provide information about available resources, offer suggestions and advice when appropriate, answer questions, and offer…

Describes some of the different roles an instructional consultant may fill and their implications for both clients and consultants. The focus is on the differences between consultants as generalists and as specialists, and between consultants as advisors to others and as direct providers of products or services. (Author)

Evaluates the effectiveness of the consultative process, as determined by four reviewed studies. Discusses consultative needs and practices of teachers in schools of different grade levels, and stresses the importance of peer consultation. Suggests recommendations for improving the practice of educational consultation. (JD)

Discussion of the instructional consultant role of the school library media specialist argues that the term "instructional partner" more accurately defines this concept. Professional and educational literature on this subject is reviewed, and a business consultant's personal recommendations to other consultants are applied to the school…

The primary functions of a teachers' center and the qualities to look for in individuals who will form the core staff are delineated. Three main tasks for a teacher center are: improving instruction in the classroom; bringing people together to effect the improvement; and coping with the complexities of change in people and institutions that the…

Advice is given to course teams from the Social Sciences faculty at the Open University in England on the proper use of educational consultants. Practical suggestions on the selection of appropriate tasks for consultants and of consultants for tasks are followed by suggestions on briefing, contracting, and maintaining liaison with consultants.…

As a consultant to Quaker elementary and middle school teachers in Pennsylvania, the author helps teachers develop a sense of how to make a working atmosphere where creative thinking and learning can take place in many ways and helps principals find constructive ways to deal with personnel problems. (Author/SB)

This paper is a book review of William M. Phillips, Jr.'s "The School Sociologist: A Need and an Emergent Profession" (Washington, DC: University Press of America, Inc., 1981; 216p. ISBN-0-8191-1946-6. $12.95). Dr. Phillips defines a new professional field and expounds upon the role of the professionals within it. He seeks to combine factual…

Reports that the five assumptions underlying behavioral consultation (BC) have remained static for 19 years, which has partly limited examination of other issues related to a triadic behavior change process. Argues that BC has not sufficiently stimulated the development of programmatic research and considers the possibility that alternative…

We support role changes for educational and psychological consultants who work with children and youth with disabilities as they make important transitions. Principles derived from critical pedagogy and disability studies could provide the theoretical framework for the proposed shift in roles that change the basis on which consulting services are…

The role of advisors at Washington West Resource Center (Vermont) is described in this report as providing professional and personal support to teachers. Advisors and teachers in this program work together on such topics as curriculum development and implementation, classroom organization, specific skills development, materials and acquisitions,…

The amount of time New Jersey school psychologists spend performing various professional role functions is reviewed in an attempt to quantitatively identify any developmental trends in the role functioning of school psychologists. (Author/PN)

Argues for a unifying concept for consultation research and practice based on the principle of social validity, a principle which includes the evaluation of the social importance of the effects produced by intervention procedures. Suggests that relying exclusively on consultees to socially validate goals, procedures, and outcomes is misguided. (75…

Presents an empirically-based alternative to traditional consultation which teaches skills to consultees. Gives a description of the method and examples of how it was applied in each of the four stages of consultation in school settings. Suggestions for research in direct behavioral consultation are provided. (RJM)