Describes the mental health problem among the poor whose rural or cultural attitudes and values often prevent their seeking or receiving services. Describes federal involvement in mental health since 1946, including legislation, presidential policy, currently proposed bills, and budget items. Discusses state and local administration of federal…

Advocates of the "new realism" in urban revitalization argue that effective urban policy involves attracting industries and white-collar taxpayers while improving public management and reducing public services. If this approach is not counterbalanced by socially conscious interests, cities may soon have little room for many of their present…

School readiness problems of disadvantaged children include: the failure of preschool and parent training programs; restricted learning environments and motivational problems; mothers with low intelligence and verbal skills; and a need for comprehensive family rehabilitation. The school psychologist's role in early screening and in fostering…

Captures the cooperative spirit of a suburban Georgia high school with 2,000 highly mobile students from 60 countries and speaking over 30 different languages. Staff work to counter stereotypical assumptions and use diversity as a positive resource for learning and promotion of individual excellence. Diversity-management strategies related to…

The effects of stressful experiences on the psychological well-being of 113 homeless women and 116 low-income housed women were investigated. Measures of victimization assessed multiple dimensions of this construct, including criminal victimization, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. Measures of daily environmental hassles and quality of family…

Identified groups of economically disadvantaged children showing high externalizing behavior in first grade that persisted (persistent) or decreased (improver) in third grade, or low first- grade levels that were stable (unproblematic) or increased (new problem) in third grade. Found that verbal ability, behavioral impulsivity, parent…

Reports on a study of second-generation high school students who were children of Cuban and Vietnamese immigrants (relatively advantaged groups) and of Haitian and Mexican immigrants (relatively disadvantaged). Discovers that parents' socioeconomic status, length of stay in the United States, and hours spent on homework affected academic…

Individual and focus-group interviews explored barriers and motivations to lifelong learning among residents of a disadvantaged area of Glasgow (Scotland). Some participants were motivated to pursue adult education to improve employment opportunities, but motivations related to social and community networks were also important. The current policy…

Describes cognitive-developmental counseling model designed to promote high school seniors' social readiness for college through process of "psychological education." Notes that program is specifically designed to encourage and support psychological growth of prospective college students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds. (NB)

Research based on data from comparative study of eight public housing developments. Findings illustrate that deconcentration of public housing provides some benefits for low-income, single-parent households. Results tend to support claims of both proponents and opponents of deconcentration. Implications for management of public housing are…

Describes perspectives of several families whose children dropped out of school. Audiotaped interviews with 3 or more members of 12 families reveal hostile views toward schooling and a 2-generation history of poor academic performance. School was a series of academic failures, conflicts, disciplinary hearings, suspensions, and expulsions. Dropping…

Investigates ways in which social capital made available in an immigrant community contributes to the adaptation of the younger generation. Findings from Vietnamese youth living in New Orleans indicate that strong positive immigrant cultural conformity and constructive forms of behavior provide disadvantaged children with an adaptive advantage.…

Studies previously identified factors associated with adolescent pregnancy among a nationally representative sample of unmarried African-American females (n=4,663) born between 1938 and 1962. Data from the 1982 National Survey of Family Growth suggest substantial changes in sexual behavior over the years. (SLD)

Assesses the incidence of Asian-American and Pacific Islander-American poverty, and offers a theoretical explanation for its existence. It is argued that poverty of Americans of Asian and Pacific Island descent is best understood in the context of the linkage of labor migration and U.S. labor market segmentation. (SLD)

The mentorship component of Project Synergy at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York), develops the talent of potentially gifted, economically disadvantaged urban kindergarten children, by matching them with mentors from a school for gifted urban minority middle school students. This paper describes training, the mentoring relationship…