In March 2006, Premier Wen Jiabao acknowledged that the situation in the Chinese countryside is desperate and claimed new resources would be devoted to healthcare and education. This announcement should have pleased architects of the Chinese "learning initiative" who are building learning cities and villages. The authors describe why…

In 1997, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio established the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) for the Lower Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. Through medical education programs, research facilities, and partnerships with health-care providers, the RAHC aims to improve the health status and access to health services…

This book provides descriptions of youth involvement projects that have made significant contributions to young people, their schools, and their communities. Each description is intended to provide information for starting and operating similar youth projects. They explain how a particular project began, mention the important problems encountered,…

In the wake of a U.S. Justice Department investigation that found widespread use of excessive force by staff at upstate psychiatric care facilities for mentally ill children, this new edition of Child Welfare Watch identifies shortcomings in mental health services and explores possible solutions, including the expansion of alternatives to…

When Dayton Public Schools committed to return to neighborhood K-8 schools, the community organized to refocus many youth programs in schools and neighborhoods. This article describes the planning and implementation of Dayton's Neighborhood School Centers. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the University of Dayton, especially the Fitz…

International Child Development Initiatives (ICDI) is a Dutch non-profit organization with a world-wide brief, and a focus on transitional and developing countries. ICDI promotes the well-being of children growing up in difficult circumstances. As a result of the global recession, 2009 was a challenging year for many organizations working in the…

Objective: Physical activity can reduce the risk of several chronic diseases. Such diseases are most prevalent in economically-disadvantaged groups where physical activity levels are consistently lower. There is a need to engage disadvantaged groups in programmes to increase physical activity. This case study examined programmes on offer in a…

Focusing on creating community partnerships via collaboration to support the growth and development of children and families, this guide is intended to enhance the knowledge and skills Head Start staff need to be full collaborative partners in community efforts to help families develop, nurture their children, and experience success. Following an…

This report endorses the concept of student volunteer programs and suggests that the high school and community organize their authority and resources to establish such programs. If both community needs and interested students exist, then the high school can coordinate individual projects into a coherent program to eliminate duplicated efforts, to…

Community services programs for the Foothill Community College District are described and statistics indicating their level of activity for 1970-71 are presented. This progress report also includes a 5-year budget projection and future program plans. The recreation program includes structured and unstructured athletic and recreational events. A…

PayBack is a community service/restitution program that provides juvenile offenders an opportunity to be accountable for their delinquent behavior. The process required the delinquent to "pay back" the victim of an illegal act by the delinquent working with a designated business. This document outlines the PayBack program and discusses the…

This preliminary guide is designed to help AmeriCorps and other national service programs plan and deliver effective early childhood services. The guide can also be used in community-based planning to incorporate national service organizations in early childhood program initiatives. Following an overview of the roles that AmeriCorps and other…

The Join Together National Policy Panel presents five policies that can help communities reduce and prevent substance abuse. They are: (1) compel substance abuse treatment for criminal offenders; (2) ensure that every person who has an addiction gets treatment; (3) make substance abuse prevention an urgent priority in every community; (4) increase…

There still seems to be some doubt as to the value of community service by schools. Is it simply a convenient way of filling time for the lessable, or can it serve some more useful purpose? How can schools organize their involvement in the community effectively? (Editor)

Considered the cooperation and coordination necessary to help youth find a part of their accredited learning experience in the community at large. (Author/RK)