Reviews dynamics of court referral and client behaviors associated with forced mental health counseling. Discusses similarities and differences between voluntary and mandated counseling. Includes suggestions for managing logistics of the mandate and client reluctance. Presents traits of mental health counselors who hope to work successfully with…

Describes the development and components of a referral database management system developed by the Arkansas Transition Project. The system enables individualized-education-plan team members to refer students with disabilities directly to adult agencies and to receive a monitoring report describing the agency response to the referral. The system is…

Presents strategies for early childhood educators and child caregivers for identifying potential developmental delays and disabilities among the children they work with. Suggests using a developmental checklist, documenting actual activities, talking with the director, meeting with the parents, and referring parents to the appropriate agency. (KB)

A study obtained data on 406 children from birth to age 3 with visual impairments at the point of entry into specialized early intervention programs in nine states. The majority were legally blind and had additional disabilities. About a six-month mean lag was found between diagnosis and referral for services. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Reviews the development, distribution, and effectiveness of a free, comprehensive mass-mailed community service directory designed for older people. Recipients who remembered receiving it (about 50%) indicated it increased service awareness and prompted various types of use. (JBJ)

The rise in the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is discussed and information is offered on behaviors signaling the need for referral in very young children. Positive and negative effects of medications are discussed, along with specific behavioral coping strategies for both home and group care. (Contains…

Results are reported for an exploratory study of eligibility decisions made for 21 Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) with learning disabilities (LD) and no secondary disabilities who received special education support in reading. Eligibility determinations by an expert panel resulted in decisions that differed significantly from…

The development and psychometric properties of a brief screening tool for use with American Indian youth suspected of abusing substances is described. The Indian Health Service-Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire (IHS-PESQ) is a brief questionnaire that screens for drug abuse problem severity, response distortion tendencies, and…

Children with visual impairments who are gifted may be one of the most underserved student populations in our educational system (Johnsen & Corn, 1989). A paucity of current research exists concerning appropriate practices for recognizing these students in publicly funded school settings. In 2004, the American Foundation for the Blind reported…

Background: There has been no previous incidence survey of children referred to a speech and language therapy service in the UK. Previous studies of prevalence of specific communication difficulties provide contradictory data from which it is difficult to plan speech and language therapy service provision. Reliable data are needed concerning the…

In this evaluation we used Messick's construct validity as a conceptual framework for an empirical study assessing the validity of use, utility, and impact of office discipline referral (ODR) measures for data-based decision making about student behavior in schools. The Messick approach provided a rubric for testing the fit of our theory of use of…

This article describes a psychoeducational group for ethnic minority residents in a predominantly White adolescent residential treatment center. Group process and development are discussed, and a sample 10-week group is described as a way to provide an example of the application of the Association for Specialists in Group Work's "Principles for…

Starr Commonwealth has served troubled children and youth and their families for nearly a century. Starr's Montcalm Schools operate from campuses in Michigan and Ohio, enrolling students referred by families and educational consultants. The Montcalm Outdoor Challenge Program is a key part of Starr's network of nonprofit alternative education and…

Objectives: Increasing numbers of young children referred for a differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) necessitates better understanding of the early syndrome expression and the utility of the existing state-of-the art diagnostic methods in this population. Method: Out of 31 infants under the age of 2 years referred for a…

Children with antisocial, aggressive and disruptive behaviour problems are among the most frequent referrals to mental health services. These young people and their families present with a range of adverse contextual factors and can prove challenging to engage. We examined the characteristics of children with conduct problems, treatment…