Interviews with 75 leaders in 5 rural Missouri communities identified "sense of fit" and community evaluation as dimensions of leaders' community attachment that were related to each other but were associated differently with leader characteristics such as education. Leaders' local attachments appeared to inhibit linkages to outside…

Summarizes the issues arising in a (British) grant-maintained comprehensive school as it responds to its highly supportive community's needs. Saved from closure by opting out, Bankfield School is managed by a governing body devoted to community education and a principal and staff committed to local needs. School-community balance is being achieved…

Describes in-home family support programs for low-income and minority children and families. Family-centered programs attempt to link families to services that meet their educational, health and social needs. The community needs to be involved in program development if programs are to be truly helpful and supportive of families. (SH)

Describes the economic and demographic changes experienced by rural communities over the past few years and how they have increased rural health professionals' responsibilities. Presents the Community Wellness program and four case histories illustrating how it has strengthened community infrastructure, developed human capital, and created rural…

Describes Very Special Person Week, week set aside annually in which everyone in the home, school, and community is encouraged to do something for children to make them feel important, proud, worthwhile, and special. Describes need for voluntary participation; community involvement; goals, activities, and effectiveness; and steps in organizing the…

Describes a cultural arts program of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA) that encourages K-12 students to explore their thoughts and express them through the arts. The 1988-89 theme was "Proud Experiences," around which students created artwork that depicted feelings of accomplishment as well as national and family pride.…

Examined dissemination and implementation of a community-based, peer-led nutrition teaching program in secondary schools. Surveys studied teacher and school characteristics associated with program receipt and use. About half of junior high and one-third of senior high teachers received the program, and three-quarters of those used it. (SM)

Describes the Families, Agencies, and Communities Together (FACT) initiative. Active in Utah, FACT is a collaborative effort within communities to assist at-risk children and their families. FACT combines values-based support with flexibility to find community-based solutions. (MKA)

Examines what should be featured in an athletic facility, how to plan for the many different sports and activities that will be housed, and how to get the community involved. Areas addressed include planning for locker rooms and storage, flooring and lighting, building code adherence, spectator seating, building security, and outdoor recreation…

To determine 1999 Magna Award winners, judges looked for successful programs that were developed or actively supported by school boards, essential in promoting the district's mission and advancing student learning, bold and creative, and capable of being replicated. The grand prize winner was Hartford (Connecticut) Public Schools' extended-day…

Discusses how newly built schools are becoming community activity centers with input from the community. Gives several examples of how communities were involved in the school planning and redesign process that also created room for community use of the school. (GR)

Argues that the context of counseling factors can make a difference in the counselor/client relationship and the process and outcome of counseling. Suggests that context has been ignored in counseling theory, research, and practice and that attention to context can contribute to more responsive and effective counseling services. (Author/MKA)

Describes a project for students to study storm water runoff, erosion, sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, wetlands, ground water, and the effects on waterways of acidity and household pollutants through experimentation and fieldwork. (CCM)

A rural Minnesota district with a declining regional population and little public support involved the community in developing a consensus for reforms and creating a common vision and action plan for each school. Innovations were adopted regarding curriculum, scheduling, technology use, and marketing approaches. (MLH)

Discusses the increasing interest on college campuses in public service, and reports on 1998, 1999, and 2000 national conferences on "Strategies for Renewing the Civic Mission of the American Research University." Notes conference recommendations, such as establishment of a permanent Institute for Education for Democracy. Stresses importance of…