Reports on adoption placement services for older children provided by the Lutheran Social Service of Kansas and Oklahoma. (SB)

The paper presents an analysis of learning disabilities (LD) issues from a systems perspective. Noted are the possible causative factors, different manifestations of the condition, and maturational delays in age appropriate ego functioning. Difficulties of parenting a handicapped child are said to be magnified for families with limited resources.…

Describes a study documenting the types of school-based family life education programs implemented by nonschool agencies in Chicago. Most programs were relatively short, utilized few interactive teaching techniques (e.g., role-playing, exercises), covered a wide variety of topics, and were integrated into other curricula units rather than…

Findings of a study on child abuse reporting practices are presented in this paper. A survey of 1,196 professionals (social workers, psychologists, and doctors) and 267 elementary and secondary principals yielded response rates of 59 and 69 percent, respectively. Findings indicate that although school district policy and resource limitations…

In this paper, the questions of whether or not the transmission of common civic values and commitments to society should be a major goal of U.S. schools is considered. The effects of classroom, school, and society on civic values and attitudes are addressed in terms of: (1) the curriculum and classroom instruction; (2) school structures and…

The problem of truancy in the elementary and junior high schools of California's Yolo County was investigated during the 1980-81 academic year by means of questionnaires completed by 16 school principals and interviews with 30 people representing schools, school district offices, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Social Services, and the…

Discusses the National Science Foundation's Urban Systemic Initiative. Argues that educational policies and recommendations for educational reform in the absence of restructuring our social commitments to address oppression and poverty will be of little benefit to the many children who live under such circumstances. (JRH)

The purpose of this publication is to furnish information on health education programs provided by the public schools in Cook County, Illinois. The booklet is divided into two parts. Material is presented from school districts representative of all geographical areas of the county on the purpose and scope of their particular health education…

Court decisions concerning the residential placement of disabled children have tended to assign the primary responsibility to school districts when a child's education is affected by the placement. Because the costs of full-time residential placement are very high, school districts should analyze requests for such placement quickly and should be…

This guide enables teachers to address the issues associated with teaching about the world's nearly 15 million refugees. The guide is divided into two sections and intended for use in grades 6-12. The teacher's guide section provides extensive background for teachers seeking a comprehensive understanding of the world of refugees. Statistics,…

Articulates profitable routes to institutional reform for people dissatisfied with the quality of social service provided by the institution of which they are part. Argues that the creation of cultural and institutional democracy requires recognition of clients as constituents, and some elements of participatory decision making, community control,…

Research and experience from throughout the child welfare system have established that maintaining a strong connection between children and their families is critical to ensure positive outcomes for children in out-of-home care. Ways in which administrators and managers in out-of-home care agencies bring a family focus to their policy,…

This paper reports on a practicum designed to teach foster-care caseworkers how to improve the specificity and clarity of item definition on Individual Service Plans (ISPs) for children in foster care. Most agencies require that within 30 days of accepting a child for foster care, agency caseworkers must complete an ISP which establishes goals for…

Recommendations for starting a process of collaboration between public schools and social service agencies are offered in this digest. The first step, information gathering, is discussed, as well as strategies for carrying out other stages in the process--selecting, approaching, and meeting with participants; problem solving; and maintaining the…

Special education services in Australia are provided by state departments of education as well as voluntary organizations. These services are provided in toy libraries and activity therapy centers as well as school settings. Thus, a variety of separate evaluations have been conducted. Further cooperative and systematic assessments are planned.…