Approaches to early intervention services for rural families with young children with disabilities are considered, including service delivery models and strategies for interagency collaboration. Proposals concern increasing access to services in rural areas, personnel training and utilization, and developing an infrastructure through regional and…

Presents an interview with American Library Association award winner and children's librarian Jane Botham covering such issues as library relations with the community, relations with other agencies, dealing with reactions to controversial books, library staffing, developing children's appreciation for the library, and children's need for adult…

Identifies sources for assisting patrons with occupational and industrial wage queries. Discusses books, vocational guides, indexes, trade associations, trade unions, commercial services, government publications and agencies, journals, universities and research centers, and online sources, and also provides a list of sources. (AEF)

Competencies needed by transition specialists for youth with disabilities were validated, based on opinions of 134 specialists in vocational rehabilitation, vocational special education, and special education. Competencies rated most important to effective transition services include the ability to coordinate, communicate, and collaborate.…

Introduces articles presenting a cross section of current research activity on preparing foster youth for adulthood. Suggests it is vital to develop a knowledge-building agenda; that research efforts be prospective and programmatic rather than ex post facto, occasional, or sporadic; and that attention be directed toward testing and evaluating…

Summarizes findings from the National Evaluation of Title IV-E Independent Living Programs for Youth in Foster Care. With respect to education completion, young parenthood, and use of public assistance, discharged foster care youth more closely resemble 18- to 24-year-olds living below the poverty level than 18- to 24-year-olds in the general…

Examines the potential of a flexible specialization model to provide effective social services integration in rural areas. Contrasts flexible specialization with craft and Fordist models of production, with implications for service integration. Identifies societal changes supporting the development of flexible specialization in rural areas.…

Interviews with 29 English students with learning, emotional, or behavioral difficulties during their final school term found that students felt that they had received good advice and support for the transition to adulthood. Subsequent lack of coherence at interprofessional and interagency levels was felt to increase vulnerability of students…

Presents data about the decision-making processes leading to a suggestion of committal to care for a sample of Norwegian children. Suggests that parent characteristics, primarily substance abuse and psychiatric illness, were the main reasons for suggesting committal to care, while the children themselves were fairly invisible in the process.…

This response to EC 604 966 points out that the special education community must collaborate with multiple agencies, employers, and selected community members in identifying desired outcomes, to increase the likelihood of these potential services being offered to youths with disabilities in transition from school to adult life. (JDD)

This policy framework provides guidelines for federal agencies on public access to government electronic information. Highlights include reasons for disseminating information; defining user groups; which technology to use; pricing flexibility; security and privacy issues; and the private sector and state and local government roles. (LRW)

Describes the evaluative model used to examine unsuccessful family reunification. Discusses findings regarding parental ambivalence and its effect on child placement reentry and implications of the findings for individual case assessment and for permanency services in general. (BB)

A survey of 24 members of school-level transition teams in four rural school districts examined the effectiveness of teams and barriers to transition success. Results support the need for improved postschool case management and follow-up services. Results also show a strong relationship between written transition policy and procedures and…

The newly established Center for Research on Educational Accountability and Teacher Evaluation (CREATE) is described. CREATE--1 of 25 centers being funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement--will be a focal point in evaluating the performance of teachers, administrators, and programs in public schools and private schools. (SLD)

The current status of measurement-related course work requirements for teacher certification and recertification in the United States was investigated. Data were from the "Requirements for Certification," the "National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification Manual," and a telephone survey of 51…