Smart Start is North Carolina's partnership between state government and local leaders, service providers, and families to better serve children under 6 years and their families with the aim of ensuring that all children enter school healthy and prepared to succeed. This study examined child care centers in Smart Start counties, focusing on the…

Estimates suggest that 20 to 25% of U.S. students change schools each year, and this figure is higher in school districts with a relatively large immigrant population. The guidelines in this technical assistance packet provide strategic suggestions for welcoming newcomers to a school or district, something that has become an essential facet of…

The New York State Governor's Advisory Committee for Black Affairs has published eight policy reports that evaluate State initiatives impacting the lives of black New Yorkers. Special emphasis was placed on the following areas: (1) development of increased opportunities in all aspects of State government; (2) coordination of resources to create…

This Texas state plan presents proposals for provision of services to people with autism. It is noted that less than 25 percent of the estimated 8,500 persons with autism in Texas are currently receiving services. Preliminary sections look at the nature of autism, the numbers of Texans with autism, the responsibilities of the Interagency Council…

This study examined states' policies toward families in the context of requirements of Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to provide early intervention services to all families with infants and toddlers with special needs. The study reviewed 13 "Year 4" applications for Part H funds from states in all geographical…

This "special focus" journal issue consists of 13 individual articles on the theme of rural family programs relating to school, health services, church, and other institutions. It includes: (1) "Towards a Rural Family Policy" (Judith K. Chynoweth and Michael D. Campbell); (2) "Montana: Council for Families Collaborates for…

This report provides background information and summarizes a 1990 seminar on the parent/professional partnership in the implementation of Public Law 99-457. Topics considered in the seminar included eligibility under Part H of the law, early intervention prior to P.L. 99-457, the process of the legislation, future of the legislation, timing of…

In June 1991, the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs invited 320 state policymakers, leaders of national and state advocacy organizations, and practitioners to a technical assistance forum on "Finding and Funding Quality Child Care and Head Start Services for Infants and Toddlers." The forum focused on essential practices in…

A project to promote collaboration between child and adult literacy educators in a family English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy program is described. It arose from conflicting opinions and concerns voiced by teachers familiar with different student groups and with different instructional frames of reference. Quarterly teacher preplanning…

This paper examines the role that public policy and practice play in supporting the efforts of natural, adoptive, and foster families who have children and youth with disabilities in keeping their families intact. Obstacles and barriers to implementing the philosophy of permanence planning, especially for children and youth with disabilities, are…

Children whose temperamental traits are significantly different from the average risk abuse or neglect from parents who do not recognize this "differentness" as legitimate expressions of individuality. This paper discusses how parents can learn to cope with "difficult" or temperamental infants, by explaining the work of the…

The Advisory Committee on Head Start Quality and Expansion was created by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in June 1993 to review the Head Start program and make recommendations for improvement and expansion. The report recommends that HHS: (1) develop new initiatives to utilize qualified "mentor teachers" to provide…

This report explores ways to implement ideas outlined by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in a November 1992 policy statement. The CCSSO statement called for joint action by state and local agencies to prepare students for productive employment, healthful lifestyles, knowledgeable and contributing citizenship, strong family…

This annual report describes Illinois activities in the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families, as called for under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The report provides: (1) discussion of progress in each of the 14…

This newsletter issue emphasizes the ways in which adolescence and its associated stages provide windows of opportunity for programmatic intervention and prevention strategies. Articles in the newsletter include the following: (1) "Developing Support Programs for Families with Adolescents"; (2) "Communicating with Your…