This neighborhood medical care center serves 45,000 low income residents of the South Bronx with the help of area residents hired as health advocates to bridge communications gaps. (BH)

This is a summary of a statement by an ad hoc committee of the American Thoracic Society.

A screening program for scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, is now required in public schools in 13 states. The history of the Massachusetts program suggests ideas for starting a program in school systems. Screening kits are included. (MLF)

Three models of evaluation emerge: objective and independent, objective but serving one interest, and pseudo-scientific public relations. Evaluation of an interdisciplinary mental health education program and roles must all be attended to or the weak link undermines the rest. (Author/RL)

Discusses a strategy for organizing mental health programs for American Indian families. Suggests four principles for clinical service: (1) spirituality; (2) immersion with families and the community; (3) "picturing," or the articulation of unconscious family behaviors; and (4) "joining," or the reconstitution of the American Indian family system.…

A cookbook approach is taken to health education programs. The ingredients for an effective health and safety fair include a slice of color, one barrel of laughs, a bunch of hard work, and a measure of knowledge. (JN)

The therapeutic community and traditional mental health services have not been demonstrated to be effective for the drug user, the mental health patient, or the alcoholic. A variety of behavior modification techniques look promising. However, their applicability for drug users has yet to be determined. The means for adequate assessment are…

A university health service working cooperatively with a private medical group established a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) for the entire community. (JD)

The problems of integrating the physically handicapped child are discussed including descriptions of major handicapping conditions, a discussion of the development of mainstreaming programs, suggestions for successful programs, and comments on the financial implications of mainstreaming. (MM)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a key part of emergency cardiac care. It is a basic life support procedure that can be taught in the schools with the assistance of the American Heart Association. (JMF)

An interview with Harriet Oyler, the first woman to be employed by Nabisco, Inc., as a sanitarian is detailed. Topics discussed include facility monitoring and inspection, industrial sanitation, and the role of the industrial sanitarian. (BT)

Uses diffusion of innovations theory to contrast three different preventive health interventions (undertaken by the contractual network of the Cancer Information Service) by their innovation attributes. Shows that innovation attributes were rated differentially by organizational members, depending on the nature of the specific intervention,…

Profiles characteristics of adolescent suicide attempters (N=27) and the treatment they received in a pediatric emergency room. Results demonstrated that the evaluation of suicidal adolescents cared for in a pediatric facility may be episodic. Suggests need for comprehensive program to approach the problem. (Author/ABL)

After efforts to improve mental health services for older adults, services to older adult minorities were compared with services to non-minority counterparts by questioning aging specialists (N=72). Found although aging specialists perceived substantial growth in services, mental health services for ethnic minority adults showed a lower rate of…