The passage of Public Law 99-457 relating to education for the handicapped increases the probability that the school psychologist will be asked to evaluate infants and children diagnosed as suffering from nonorganic failure-to-thrive (NOFT) disorder. Etiology, models, and interventions appropriate for NOFT children are discussed. (SLD)

Articles in this special issue are devoted to psychosocial aspects of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention in the African-American community. The core assumption is that the values, beliefs, and world views of people of African descent must be understood for AIDS prevention to be effective. (SLD)

Describes an Africentric model for training psychologists who deliver Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education, prevention, and services within the African-American community. Principles of the NTU philosophy (a Bantu concept) and Nguzo Saba were used in training 75 African-American psychologists to deliver prevention services. (SLD)

Explores responses of 620 middle school and high school students to the Student Rating Scale. Results show that students who had been suspended were more likely to be involved with the legal system. Also explores rule compliance and school interest for internally suspended, externally suspended, and never suspended students. Discusses implications…

The effective practice of school psychology requires a strong research and theoretical base, a framework that encompasses developmental processes and outcomes, both adaptive and maladaptive, which facilitates assessment and intervention and offers insight into classroom and family dynamics. Attachment theory provides the school psychologist with…

The purpose of this investigation was to examine associations between different child characteristics and conflict, closeness, and dependency within teacher-student relationships. The participants were primarily students of color from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds in a large urban school district. The strength of associations between…

Recent advances in science have underscored how critical children's first five years of life are to their later success in school and life. It has also been recently recognized that early childhood interventions, particularly those that combine child-focused educational activities with parent-child relationship building, can positively influence…

Aims: Cognitive therapies are increasingly being offered by clinical psychologists to people with intellectual disabilities. This paper reviews some of the factors that influence people's readiness to engage in cognitive therapy. Literature review: Limited verbal ability, psychological-mindedness (particularly in relation to the understanding of…

This study examined urban educators' attitudes toward commonly recommended interventions for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Participants included 358 pupil personnel services (PPS) professionals--school psychologists, social workers, and counselors--and 70 classroom teachers from urban elementary schools. On…

Job burnout is a condition observed in recent years among a wide variety of helping professions. In this study, burnout was described as emotional exhaustion, job dissatisfaction, and the desire to leave the job and/or profession. To examine burnout in the profession of school psychology, a random sample of members (N=139) of the Illinois School…

A large number of school administrators are reluctant to evaluate school specialists and/or teachers who work with special-needs students. However, because Public Law 94-142 was passed to protect and improve the quality of education for children who have special needs, administrators have a duty to uphold the right of all students to a quality…

Schools mirror society. Both are struggling with issues that threaten not only the learning process, but human development as well. The underpinnings of all school activities are in large part drawn from the field of psychology. Today, as education reform gains momentum, the scientific knowledge and practice expertise of psychologists are…

Evaluations should be an important component in every model and exchange of the consultation process. Consultation literature includes considerable information on the importance of the inclusion of evaluation at the completion of consultation exchanges, but little emphasis is placed on evaluation and its meaning. Objectives of the study were to:…

A 400-item questionnaire was designed to provide information on two outstanding research questions: whether a describable Hispanic culture exists in the United States, and if so, what special cultural characteristics should be taken into account in identifying and educating Hispanic exceptional students. English and Spanish versions of the…

Two workshops for school psychologists focus on psychoeducational assessment and development of individualized education programs (IEPs) for emotionally handicapped (EH) students. Each workshop includes a rationale statement, statements of purpose, scope, and prerequisite skills, learning activities, supplementary reports or case studies, and…