Research consumers, both individuals and groups, can benefit or lose from early intervention research endeavors, and their needs and priorities should be considered. Researchers' decisions and actions create consumer winners and losers in three areas of research activity: conceptualization of research, design of research studies, and dissemination…

A coat was adapted for a 20-year-old severely handicapped woman to control her practice of "mouthing" her hands and clothing. Velcro strips attached to the coat held the student's arms down long enough to allow for differential reinforcement of appropriate behavior, which successfully reduced the rate of mouthing. (JDD)

This paper defines social withdrawal from a social skills perspective and presents a fourfold classification system of children's social skills deficits. The paper reviews the literature in discussing assessment procedures; social skills training strategies (modeling, coaching, peer-mediated interventions, and group contingencies); and…

This literature review focuses on behavioral intervention strategies for the reduction of school-related fears and anxieties. Major behavior therapy procedures are discussed: systematic desensitization and its variations, modeling, self-control, and cognitive behavioral approaches. General research trends in fear and anxiety reduction are also…

The article describes components of school-based programs that have demonstrated efficacy in treatment of depressed children and adolescents. Components include self-monitoring, activity scheduling, cognitive restructuring, attribution retraining, self-evaluation training, self-reinforcement training, and relaxation training. Results of studies…

The paper reviews the complexity of the social and affective demands confronting children aged 4-10 and the advantages of preventive over remedial interventions. Components of classroom-based social problem-solving preventive interventions are described, along with practical issues in program implementation. (Author/JDD)

Describes the theory and known influences on learned helplessness, particularly in the mathematics field, and discusses prevention and remediation with respect to this phenomenon. (PK)

Describes a program planned and implemented by community volunteers to facilitate the development of positive attitudes toward the disabled. The program was implemented over one semester in five public schools. The article discusses variables that contributed to the success of the program as well as some of the limitations of attitude change…

This article reviews various aspects of seven approaches to the treatment of childhood depression--psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive, familial, rational-emotive, multimodal, and drug interventions. Implications for practitioners are considered in terms of target selection, choice of treatment methods, rational evaluation based on developmental…

In the context of a discussion of the use of meta-analysis techniques, two articles take issue with the findings of Casto and Mastropieri concerning effects of early intervention, in particular age-at-start parent involvement, conceptual and methodological problems. The authors of the original article provide rebuttals to the critiques. (JW)

Questions whether home-based early intervention is an invasion of the family that inadvertently undermines its self-confidence or is a life-saving service to families whose children are at risk of abuse and neglect. (HOD)

Reviews the research on the effects of family violence on the psychological/behavioral adjustment of children in shelters for battered women. Offers several recommendations based on this research for serving preschool and school-age children residing in these shelters. (BB)

Major changes in Massachusetts public policy governing early intervention programs for very young disabled children were described. The process of policy change and formation was analyzed by focusing on the principal catalysts for change. Factors were examined in terms of issue definition, proposal formulation, support mobilization, and decision…

Forty-five principals were interviewed concerning their experiences with and perceptions about serious incidents of teacher misconduct. The principals protected the image of the school by heading off, dampening, and containing the incidents. They preferred to resolve incidents in-house, but resorted to formal sanctions when necessary. (Author/DC)

The Week-end Intervention Program (WIP) used by Wright State University School of Medicine, which assesses the alcohol problems of those convicted of offenses such as drunk driving and then assists in finding treatment, is described. The impact of the program in educating medical students about alcoholism is discussed. (MLW)