The apprenticeship movement is reshaping skills, policies, and programs in the United States at a critical moment in our country's history. This reader offers a chorus of voices emanating from different countries and populations, echoing commitment to bright, sustainable workforce futures through a well-crafted approach to this talent development…

Essays focusing on issues concerning youth education and unemployment problems are presented in this document. It is divided into three general areas. The first, Youth Unemployment in Western Industrial Countries, reviews general dimensions of the problem, the cyclical hypothesis, the demand hypothesis, the supply hypothesis, disaggregating…

Employment is one of the biggest contributors to quality of life for people with disabilities--and that means well-planned work experiences should be an integral part of transition preparation for every secondary and postsecondary school aged youth. Make that happen with this practical guide, developed to help educators, transition specialists,…

To make a smooth transition to a fulfilling, self-determined adult life, young people who use Augmentative-Alternative Communication (AAC) need effective services that meet their individual needs and make the most of advances in technology. Professionals will provide these critical supports with the help of this book, the first complete guide to…

This report presents papers on the vocational qualifications systems in Sweden, France, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, and England and Wales. An introduction (Russ Russell) looks at common themes. The paper on Sweden (Gun Cardell) addresses vocational education opportunities, curriculum and standards, costs, youth and…

This report presents six papers concerning the future demography and economy of New York, New York. "Demographic and Economic Projections for New York City" (Richard McGahey) reviews demographic and economic projections for the city and its boroughs that were developed by a number of forecasters. Next, "The Location of People and…

This document consists of summaries of five separate forums relating to youth employment problems and local development. Each forum consisted of presentations by three individuals from varied backgrounds. Forum participants examined the following trends associated with the youth unemployment problem: (1) the technological structure of business and…

Five papers which criticize Charles Murray's book, "Losing Ground: American Social Policy 1950-1980" are presented in this report. In general, the papers dispute Murray's thesis that the poor did not benefit from social policies but were, instead, substantially harmed by these programs. The papers (and their authors) are: (1)…

The underlying causes of black urban poverty are examined, and means are recommended to escape the cycle of violence it creates. Black activists and scholars analyze theoretical and practical problems facing the black community in the United States in the following papers: (1) "Towards a Theory and Strategy for Black Economic…

This book contains fifty-three case studies covering a wide variety of private-sector activities and public-private partnerships designed to increase training and employment opportunities for the hard-to-employ and speed the transition of the unemployed from government support and subsidized jobs to permanent private employment. Compiled from a…

This first annual report by the Dusseldorp Skills Forum on the situation of young Australians provides a national perspective on developments that have affected 15-19 year olds during the 1990s. An overview chapter, "Youth: The Rhetoric and the Reality of the 1990s" (Richard Sweet), addresses these topics: education-work transition; the…

This issues primer is structured around a series of 20 contemporary concerns in the changing world of work and training in Australia in the early 1990s. It is part of the study materials for the one-semester distance education unit, Negotiated Study Program, in the Open Campus Program at Deakin University (Australia). Information on each issue is…

This collection of eight papers reflects Dutch experiences on topics of common interest and concern in the education of less able 16 to 19 year olds throughout the European economic community. "An Outline of the Dutch System of Education" (Philippa Andrews and Colin Turner) provides a basic background to Dutch education, concentrating…

The joint product of 18 contributors, this book evaluates the potential of the private sector for delivering a wide range of human services to alleviate social problems. It also assesses the effect of governmental programs and policies on nongovernmental organizations. Part 1 of the book presents a conceptual framework for making government…

These 21 articles about the current status of school volunteer programs were originally packaged as background reading for participants in the National School Volunteer Program's November 1978 conference on the role of volunteers in meeting critical national needs. The material, including excerpts from speeches given at the program's February 1978…