Recounts the experiences of a social worker in a typical normalization project and then at L'Arche--a community of group homes for the mentally retarded, "assistants," and their families. Emphasizes friendship in an approach to rehabilitation services based on the premises of experiential education. (SV)

Describes "program without walls" for developing community services in rural areas. Emphasizes importance of creative collaboration and redesign of traditional support programs to offer comprehensive community services tailored to needs of rural families and individuals. Suggests practical applications of "without walls" model. (Author/TES)

Presents the age-sex structures of refugee populations arriving in the United States from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam from 1975 through 1986. Differences in the composition of these young populations reflect varying flight and resettlement experiences and changing factors influencing migration. High fertility rates predict a generation of rapid…

Claims it is appropriate for the aging and developmental disabilities networks to explore the intersections of their operations with respect to their methods of administration, advocacy, service systems, development, and policies. Discusses roles of State and Area Agencies on Aging. (Author/ABL)

Reviews research on the changing patterns of childbearing among adolescents and the impact of premature parenthood on the life course of young mothers and their children. The evidence supports the need for more integration among services and the importance of increasing the availability of services to those in need. (Author/BJV)

Introduces six papers that address policy issues and alternatives related to the provision of child protective services. Papers focus on perceptions and reports of child maltreatment, decisions to investigate cases of abuse or neglect, and the effects of proposed federal legislation on service provision. (MDM)

Reviews current research about families of young children with disabilities, and raises issues related to the actual application of this knowledge at both policy and practice levels. Notes that a deficit model has guided much of the study of young children with disabilities, but that alternative conceptual perspectives, advocating a…

Describes a prototype, computer-based, decision support system for eligibility determination for Food Stamps, and other support services, based on the regulations of various programs. Illustrates decision-tree structures for analysis and synthesis of client information. Argues that tree structures can help rehabilitation counselors see how human…

This study examined the relationship between community needs for information about wife assault and the information response offered through social service networks. Interviews were conducted with a random selection of 543 women and with 179 agencies and professionals identified by the women as likely sources of help. (17 references) (MES)

This article discusses seven "megatrends" in rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. They include changes in the demography of disability, the empowerment of people with disabilities, the policy of integration, and the rising cost of health and social services. Also considered are changes in rehabilitation service delivery…

Reviews the programs of eight nonprofit agencies in New York State that provide parenting training and direct assistance to parents who are mentally retarded. Briefly profiles the families in these programs. Discusses program experiences and common lessons learned by the programs. Sets forth guidelines for work with similar clients. (AS)

Briefly describes Amish history and culture, the Metzenbaum Center for special needs children in Geauga County (Ohio) and grounded theory approach to investigation of the center's success in gaining trust of Amish. Results of seven interviews indicate that the Center's outreach success is due to repeated home visits by center staff and a support…

School-linked agency collaborations are changing the way communities deliver human services to needy children and their families. Describes and cites examples of community-based and school-based delivery systems. Lists resources on unified services for children. (MLF)

According to superintendent of San Diego (California) City Schools, days are past when schools could concentrate simply on basic education and leave child's social, physical, psychological, and economic needs to others. New Beginnings, a collaborative effort to meet student and family needs, succeeds because participants developed shared…

A model, dating its foundation to the Milford conferences in the 1920s, is presented that clarifies and advances concepts of both initial and advanced generalist social work. The model focuses on the interface between systems, uses a client-centered and problem-focused philosophy, and involves multiple theories and approaches for improving…