Although a vibrant literature on the social justice advantages of writing service-learning programs has existed for many years, the focus has tended to be on specific projects and courses, often accompanied by an understandable suspicion that entrenched institutions like universities have interests inimical to radical social change. As a result,…

This literature review is intended for use by organizations and agencies who are working to develop coordinated and integrated services for children and families in their communities. The information is organized in a framework that reflects primary areas of importance in evaluating implementation and effects of collaboration. The reviewed…

The New York State Office of Rural Affairs has developed an innovative network of 17 Rural Services Institutes (RSIs) located at colleges and universities throughout the state in order to help meet the needs of rural communities. RSIs operate with minimal cost to the state and involve few bureaucratic constraints. Each RSI shares expertise and…

This guide is the second monograph in the "Guidelines for Effective Practice" series commissioned by the Best Practices Project of the Family Resource which meets the need for better definition and articulation of what constitutes best practice in family support programs. This guide describes the definition, key characteristics, and…

Rural poverty and wide-ranging environmental concerns are some of the problems driving a growing public debate on rural issues across the United Kingdom. This briefing paper assesses the contribution that a community development approach can make to these issues. Rural areas have a long history of collective action, from farm families helping each…

An individualized infant screening/parent education program using the Kent Infant Development (KID) Scale to identify infants at risk for developmental delay and to provide parent education and counseling about infant behavioral development is examined here. The screening was integrated into established community agencies, utilizing current agency…

Service-learning is a pedagogy that combines community service with academic instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility. This guide is designed to foster the development of service-learning programs at community colleges and presents experiences, ideas, and lessons learned from existing programs. First, reasons…

These standards provide measures for evaluating communities' needs for public library services, and summarize the essentials for quality service for youth and those who work with youth. New management tools, specifically guides for planning and role setting and manuals for defining output measures, the challenge of electronic access, as well as…

This paper describes key elements and strategies of a system whereby communities can provide more effective support and service systems. It is intended as an overall framework for improving children's educational outcomes by helping prepare all children for successful participation in school, strengthening family capacities to support their…

Extensive evidence indicates that the Native family and society are "at risk," having been undermined by the existing non-Native child welfare, education, and justice systems. This paper examines issues in juvenile justice, child welfare, and family services with regard to control by Canada Native communities of their own social…

Families cope with economic and social changes by (consciously or unconsciously) choosing behaviors that make up an overall economic "survival strategy." Hypothesized elements of the household survival strategy are formal and informal work, use of household resources, and use of community services. Government policies on rural and…

The full-service community school encompasses many concepts that derive from different domains--education, health, mental health, community development, youth development, human services--and these concepts are being implemented in diverse ways. Generally, the full-service community school integrates the delivery of quality education for children…

Guidelines and ideas for creating successful school/community projects are provided in this handbook. Organized like a cookbook, the book contains 43 chapters by individual contributors who take a community-based approach to education, in which the schools are the pivotal institutions of a community. The first section outlines the roles, or…

The Mechanicsburg Area (Pennsylvania) Phone Pal Program is a telephone reassurance program in which an older volunteer calls a child who is home alone before or after school. Calls are made at the same time each day. These daily calls provide both younger and older persons with a safety verification, in addition to fellowship. Phone Pal is…

Early childhood education and care (educare) combined with community development presents a unique opportunity to stimulate the disadvantaged and oppressed sectors of the population towards improved economic status, increased self-confidence and self-esteem, and human development. The three main elements of this approach are the community,…