Analyzes the causes and effects of changes in the family of American Blacks. Identifies persistent, institutional racism as the primary cause for the plight of Black male youths. Classifies the latter into three groups: (1) the small percentage who attain a career; (2) the 51% who steadily seek work and rarely succeed; and (3) the displaced and…

Contends traditional debate on whether a social services program should be universalistic or selective limits the policy options. Reviews current debate on policy options including a policy package that can permit income testing without stigmatizing the poor. Reports findings of a comparative sudy of eight countries that examined income transfers…

Explains China's poverty at specific social levels and as a whole. Deals with overall issues such as: (1) the commodity economy; (2) China's sixth-five year plan; (3) rural industrialization; (4) the poor educational system; (5) unevenly developed territory; (6) persistant feudal problems; and (7) isolation from the world. Concludes by defining…

Analyzes census data to examine the extent and causes of the continuing high rates of poverty among black Americans over the last two decades. Discusses the increase in black female-household heads and findings of a correlation between marital breakup and the income and employment history of husbands. (KH)

Teachers in a rural Canadian school were surveyed about their perceptions of the characteristics of disadvantage. Teachers saw disadvantaged students as environmentally deficient children. (RB)

Traces the progress of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge's (England) charity school movement in the early eighteenth century and its shift from promotion of catechistical instruction to putting children to work in workhouses that served to banish idleness and beggary. (GEA)

Changes in parenting behavior have led to the troubling situation called the "feminization of poverty." Families headed by divorced women are doing better than is commonly supposed. Families headed by never-married women are doing worse. Public policy should reflect the differing needs of these two groups. (VM)

Notes that Sweden has been making continuing progress in its conquest of poverty. Examines the Swedish strategy and discusses its successes in the areas of poverty, slums and housing, health conditions, and unemployment and the labor force. (NB)

Examines current demographic projections in terms of five major concepts (fertility, age, region, race, and immigration) and analyzes their impact on tomorrow's schools. Beset with a declining birthrate, an aging population, and increasing numbers of poor and minority students, schools' major responsibility is to create winners and new recruits to…

This paper suggests that the relationship between women and the welfare state is shaped by a "family ethic" that in many ways parallels the work ethic known to shape the relationship between the welfare state and men. The family ethic is defined and applied to major income maintenance programs. (Author/MH)

Although some of the Boston public schools enjoy good reputations, students at more typical Boston public schools, such as English High School, receive deficient educations. Boston must take actions to overcome the issues of equity that are crippling the achievement of its public high school students. (BJV)

The paper reviews the major federal policies that affect older workers and focuses on Michigan's efforts to provide employment services to economically disadvantaged older workers. (CH)

The most serious challenge facing the Black community today is that of economic development. The recently formed Council for a Black Economic Agenda believes that a dynamic change strategy must empower the Black community itself in order to eradicate poverty, expand educational options, and strengthen Black families. (GC)

During a period of increasing unemployment and decreased Medicaid eligibility, more women residents of low-income census tracts in Washington State received delayed prenatal care or none at all and delivered proportionately more infants of low birthweight. The incidence of maternal anemia also may have increased. (Author/GC)

Analyzes moral and legal obligations the U.S. has toward undocumented Mexicans in the U.S. Reviews past cases and draws implications regarding the nature and extent of such obligations. Discusses several court decisions regarding the rights of undocumented migrants. Provides an overview of trends in Mexican-US migration. (MD)