An overview of recent history of Nigerian higher education chronicles periods of phenomenal expansion, economic downturn and retrenchment, monitoring of efficiency and academic standards, continued uncontrolled expansion in the absence of basic facilities, recently improved fiscal management, revival of student aid, and proposals for the opening…

A telephone survey of relevant agencies in each county resulted in estimates of the number and location of homeless children (age 0-21) in Alabama. Over 17,000 homeless youth were located. Community denial and misconceptions about homelessness were cited as barriers to service coordination. The responsibility of schools, agencies, and society to…

A study with follow-up interviews of services for homeless and mentally ill persons (original sample of 163) had a very high success rate of over 70% in tracking this difficult to locate population. Techniques for locating clients are presented, as identified by a focus group of five researchers. (SLD)

The coping characteristics of 1,035 disabled and 405 nondisabled children, aged 4 months to 3 years, are assessed across 3 categories of behavioral patterns (sensorimotor organization, reactive behavior, and self-initiated behavior). The influence of family income, gender, age, and ethnicity is examined and the implications for early intervention…

New Jersey Supreme Court, in "Abbott v. Burke (Abbott II)," held that state's Public School Education Act of 1975 was unconstitutional. Notes that initial impact of "Abbott II" is to put pressure on legislators to correct funding system; challenge will require educators to overhaul their patterns of behavior in administration,…

Discusses the barriers created when communication breaks down between physicians and poor patients, a failure generally resulting from inadequately shared information and a power asymmetry in the relationship. Suggests strategies for improving communication with poor patients, including improving listening and responding skills, avoiding jargon,…

In trying to insulate school boards from city politics and political parties, early reformers severed board connections with other service providers. Today, worsening conditions for children and their families require "undoing" these reforms and transforming the board's role. Playing a smaller role in some executive, judicial, and…

Neither sexuality education nor abstinence programs have reduced adolescent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. The article presents recent data, explains why prevention does not work, and describes crucial factors that school and community prevention programs fail to incorporate (adult-teen intercourse, teen-teen intercourse, adult…

States where a large proportion of the poor are rural residents or racial/ethnic minorities provided less welfare support per poor child under Aid to Families with Dependent Children than did other states. No corresponding rural or racial/ethnic disadvantage was observed for the Food Stamp program, which has nationwide eligibility criteria and…

About 20% of Canadian children live in poverty. The idea that wealth influences achievement is being denied. Although the government promised that half the "fiscal dividend" would be reinvested in children, it held focus groups instead. Meanwhile, a research finding about poor parenting has grabbed media attention. (MLH)

College students in a course, Health Service Delivery to Diverse Populations, examined the health-care needs and experiences of homeless people by surveying homeless people in Nashville, TN. This article presents the story of one homeless man and his transition off the streets. A photo essay chronicles his journey from the streets back into life…

Used content analysis to examine the depiction of poverty in 18 books for young children. Book content was coded using nine categories (occupation, income, employment, unemployment, race, ethnicity, geographic locale, education, and family structure). Found that all nine categories appeared in the books and that although some findings diverged…

A Better Chance helps send youth of color to independent boarding schools. Many participants are from impoverished families. Each year, nearly all A Better Chance graduating seniors immediately enter college, with 88 percent entering very competitive colleges. Describes the application, assessment, and acceptance processes that these students…

This action research project investigated young urban adolescents' perceptions of violence in their school and community. The project involved gathering information about the community; engaging adolescents in creative, interactive activities; collaborating to develop a community photography project to help adolescents represent their perceptions…

Using ethnographic techniques, this article explores the complex interaction of control and caring in two alternative education programs for students resisting traditional schooling in Cincinnati (Ohio) Public Schools, a predominantly low-income, African-American urban school district. A community-based orientation for staff proves essential in…