Members of the academic and intellectual community are often faced with the dilemma of finding themselves inured to the lives of the individuals for whom they profess advocacy. Drawing on the real-life experiences of children and families in need, this paper places social-service agencies, professionals, and services within their historical and…

A survey of consumer concerns of American Indians with disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas) area involved interviews with 150 American Indians with disabilities. Results are reported for the following areas: characteristics of respondents (sex, age, tribal identification, length of residence, income, disability, and experience with…

The effects of broadening the definition of eligibility for services from the Washington State Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) are analyzed. Five different definitions are discussed. The existing definition includes: (1) "statutory conditions," which includes persons who are mentally retarded or have difficulty carrying out…

This paper provides an overview of financing patterns and mechanisms for public education and other services for children. It describes overall levels of support and significant trends over time in funding patterns. The paper also compares and contrasts the financing arrangements and trends in the different children's service sectors, highlighting…

This study sought to determine what, if any, local funding sources are available to rehabilitation service providers as supplements to fee-for-service funding for specific consumers. Chief executive officers at 20 community-based vocational rehabilitation organizations in Minnesota and Wisconsin were interviewed to determine organization financial…

This primer on youth development is intended to help communities rethink youth services in the context of the larger community. It offers guidance about the changes necessary to plan for and accept new ideas. The youth development approach advocated by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) suggests that helping young people achieve their…

In June 1992 a meeting which was targeted at neighborhood, community, state, and national leaders working to bring education and human services together for children, youth, and families was held. The majority of the time participants engaged in dialogue with colleagues with the opportunity to think about leadership skills, analyze how leaders can…

This paper explores the impact that the evaluation industry has had on the development and implementation of social policy and programs, primarily as carried out by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. In addition, major tools evaluators have developed and used, and the institutional arrangements through which they have…

Intended as a reference for chambers of commerce, physicians, public schools, and other agencies, this directory lists services for families of people with mental retardation or related disabilities in South Carolina. First, the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation is described, including its service system, organization, case…

The Prevention Training Institute has been developed to pilot a new strategy to assist inner-city service providers to further recognize and act on their own empowerment. Service providers must have the necessary capacities to incorporate new directions. These include knowledge of the current research, access to resources, and an understanding of…

This paper points out that the promise of supported living for individuals with developmental disabilities lies in its potential to deal creatively and individually with the complexities arising from the lives of many different individuals. The paper describes personal experiences of leaders in supported living agencies that enabled them to step…

This document (also in Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian language versions) provides guidelines for practice on national and intercountry adoption and foster family care, developed under the aegis of the International Council on Social Welfare and incorporating the work of over 200 practitioners, experts, and government officials representing…

Unique in its explicit use of a developmental perspective of all child welfare activities, this four-volume field guide was designed to support education and training of child welfare professionals throughout their careers. The volumes integrate both theory and practice, and can serve as text for college courses or inservice training, and as a…

This consumer education document is intended to provide a complete description of Medicare's Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals from the consumer's point of view and to provide basic information on how consumers can protect their rights to appropriate hospital care under Medicare. The first section describes the PPS and also explains…

Guidelines for developing strategies and policies that ensure equal access to education for Maine's homeless children and youth are provided in this document. The first part outlines factors that place students at risk for homelessness. The second part focuses on developing effective school policies and strategies to help homeless children gain…