The five responses to a nationwide study of public mental retardation/developmental disabilities spending in the states focus on such aspects as needed data for policy choices, classification decisions in the original study, the need for policy research, the need to reform Medicaid, and values in the funding of social services. (DB)

Reviews the quantitative literature on group work with aging persons. Draws from multidisciplinary sources and encompasses the years 1975 through 1985. Discusses 19 empirical studies involving institutionalized and noninstitutionalized older adults, targeted populations, and depressed persons. Studies on reality orientation and remotivation…

A cluster analysis grouping a sample of 153 hearing-impaired persons according to seven independent living skill variables indicated that a meaningful classification for living, work, and education could be achieved. Most of the high group and many middle group members could function at much higher levels if services were available. (Author/VW)

Discusses the Minnesota Early Childhood Family Education program and the Missouri Parents as Teachers program as examples of state-sponsored family education programs. Argues that such programs should use the school as the most approppriate setting for family support and education. (CH)

Examines the economic and social implications of world aging (social welfare costs, strain on family finances, diversion of youth-oriented expenditures to elderly-oriented expenditures, need for containment of inflation, return to a nuclear family) and the role of home economists in preparing people for this future. (CT)

Reviews the recent history of custody conflicts between foster and birth parents in the Pennsylvania courts. Traces the development of laws relating to foster care and examines conflicts between the legal system and child welfare services. (JAC)

Suggests that modern child welfare services require frequent collaboration among different disciplines. Individuals in the field may benefit from a graduate program that presents an integrated approach and leads to a Master of Arts degree in child welfare. One such program at Saint Joseph College (Connecticut) is described. (Author/BB)

The Warnock Report, recognizing the need to provide parents with additional support and advice, introduced the concept of the "named person"--essentially a counselor and advisor. The article defines the role of the "named person," and the advantages and disadvantages of different groups of professionals and voluntary…

Examines public policy needs with respect to Cuban and Haitian refugees in Miami. Refugees' distinct socioeconomic and cultural characteristics must be taken into account. The transition communities of "Little Haiti" and "Little Havana" require health and human services as external supports, but more crucially, they need strong…

In presenting an outline of parent education activities, discusses the nature of parent education and describes a life cycle approach to interventions. (RH)

Describes the Skyline Farms Project in Appalachian Alabama, a largely unsuccessful attempt to transform ex-tenant farmers into independent landowners. Traces the history of Skyline Farms from the 1930s to the early 1940s. Describes community attitudes and social services (education, health, recreation, home economics). Discusses reasons for the…

This article describes a new Regional Rehabilitation Research Institute at George Washington University and gives a conceptual framework and some aspects of the research methodology. The theme of the Institute is "Barriers to the Disabled: Attitudinal, Legal, and Leisure." (Author)

After arguing that treatment programs for the elderly need to be evaluated with better research designs, the authors illustrate how interrupted time series analysis can be used to evaluate programs for the elderly when random assignment to experimental and control groups is not possible. (Author)

Legalized abortions are not equally available to all women in the United States. The author documents the discrimination in this area that exists against the poor and urges the social work profession to extend itself to remedy this inequality. (Author)

In the past decade, school districts around the country have sought to improve struggling urban high schools, where high dropout rates, poor student achievement, and low rates of graduation and college-going remain all too prevalent. In a field crowded with reform initiatives, Project Graduation Really Achieves Dreams (GRAD) stands out as…