This study examined low birth weight and infant mortality in the 50 states and the 54 largest American cities between 1979 and 1984. Its findings confirm that progress in reducing low birth weight and infant mortality has slowed, and in some cases the progress has actually reversed. Some states and many cities had higher rates of low birth weight…

Provided are summaries of conference presentations discussing aspects of birth, parent/child interaction, and attachment behavior. Material in part I explores perspectives on pregnancy and the perinatal period. Included are discussions of birth in nonindustrial societies, progress in the study of maternal behavior in animals, the physiological…

Trends during the 1980s are described including high infant mortality, no decline in low birthweight percentages, an increase in the black-white infant mortality gap, more high-risk pregnancies, and inadequate prenatal care. Inadequate progress in reducing infant mortality is attributed in part to the limited technological ability to save…

Eleven papers from a workshop titled "International Migration: Health and Social Policies" focus on common concerns and problems in providing social and health services to labor migrants and immigrants in the United States and the European Union. Following an introduction (Antonio Ugalde, Gilberto Cardenas), the papers are: (1)…

A teen mother is likely to be out of school for several weeks following childbirth and will probably spend many hours caring for and bonding with her child. Schools may take this opportunity to allow her to earn elective school credit. This document is comprised of a textbook for use in such a course, a study guide, and a teacher's guide. The…

This manual provides assistance for Head Start managers and caregivers in providing support for substance-abusing families. The manual builds on the Head Start Substance Abuse Circle of Capacities continuum, which addresses areas of: (1) staff preparation and support; (2) prevention and family wellness; (3) early intervention, referral, and…

Part of a health occupations program, these instructional units consist of materials for use by those who are studying to become practical nurses. The first unit deals with the various aspects of pediatric nursing, including the growth and development levels of children, diseases and conditions specific to children, and the application of health…

A unique training program in high tech obstetrical, neonatal, and pediatric nursing care areas was designed to be offered on site at Orlando (Florida) Regional Medical/Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women. The training program offered 16 different courses to 355 employees over the 18-month period of the project. A needs assessment was…

This handbook is intended as a guide to caregivers in programs serving children under the age of three, and as a text for students training to work with infants and toddlers. The book includes material to help program developers and directors set up and manage a child care program. The text stresses the importance of good organization, one-to-one…

This guide outlines hospital-to-home transition guidelines to ensure a successful transition of an at-risk infant. Interagency planning is discussed, with the benefits for families, hospitals, and infant-toddler service providers highlighted. Steps that transition planners should follow to ensure a sound transition plan are provided. Useful…

A child born in Japan, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, or any of 12 other industrialized nations has a better chance of surviving his or her first year than does a child born in the United States. This is because too many babies are born too small, too many are born too soon, and too many mothers never get decent care…

This competency-based, individualized learning package, consisting of 10 learning guides, deals with child development. Addressed in the individual learning guides are the following topics: the safety needs of infants and children; the qualities, attitudes, and traits that increase parenthood readiness; the special needs created by teenage…

A survey of officials in 52 cities in the United States gathered information on the conditions and issues relating to urban children, on how city governments are structured to respond to those needs, and on city programs and initiatives which benefit children. Information provided by the cities was supplemented by data from the Bureau of the…

In the wake of intense national interest in very young children, this volume presents an examination of the findings of the Commonwealth Survey of Parents with Young Children, as analyzed by scholars from diverse disciplines. What emerges from this analysis is a picture of the complex forces that influence families and child rearing in the…

This monograph explores the research findings and experiential knowledge base on toddlers and preschool-age children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs. It is designed to influence public policy relating to the needs and early intervention plans for this population, from the medical, child welfare, psychosocial, developmental,…