Discusses the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) epidemiological studies of childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorders. Notes the significant number of students with diagnosable psychiatric disorders uncovered by the NIMH. Concludes with an agenda for action at the school, district, and governmental levels to include school…

School-based speech pathologists, school psychologists, and child psychiatrists (n=185) were surveyed to examine the role of sociocultural variables on clinicians' impressions of children with autism and related developmental disorders. Professional perceptions of children in hypothetical vignettes varied as a function of both practitioner's…

Discusses the compelling need for clear standards, a knowledge base, training, and knowledge application in child custody evaluations. Recommends some substantive areas to be mastered when dealing with child custody within the legal context. Defines features of competence as well as ethical considerations relevant to this area of clinical…

Reviews what is known about children's conceptions of death, how children grieve, and relevant research. Presents clinicians' guidelines on such issues as explaining death to children, attending funerals, and treating bereaved youths and their families. Outlines a death education program which incorporates developmental and theoretical principles…

This address discusses educational attainment rates among Latinas and notes factors that affect their educational and professional achievement. Examines the roles of family, community, and discrimination, and looks at strategies to counteract discrimination. Describes psychology's response to this issue. Offers a tribute to a Latina pioneer in…

Explores six potential barriers to an effective public image of counseling psychology; reviews several remedial strategies; and advocates the development of a vigorous, centrally coordinated public image agenda to enhance the profession's future viability and social impact. (TE)

Fifty early childhood special educators and 82 school psychologists responded to questionnaires analyzing the school psychologist's role and potential contributions to early childhood programs. While psychologists viewed their primary responsibility as conducting psychological assessments, educators' greatest expressed need was for assistance with…

Examined the possibility that individuals may confound measures of temperament and behavior problems because of the conceptual overlap between the measures. The psychologists involved in the study considered temperament items to be better measures of temperament than of behavior problems. (Author/BB)

The needs of families of the mentally ill are being newly evaluated. While family burden remains a real concomitant of mental disorders, assistance from mental health professionals often falls short of family needs. Family consultation seeks to address these serious family problems. Issues for graduate psychology education are discussed. (AF)

Examines three areas of Lawrence Kohlberg's work and suggests that this information might have future application in the field of moral development. Discusses the cognitive model underlying morality, the exploration of other psychological constructs of morality, and the new approaches to moral education. (KO)

Argues for change in the training of psychologists on the undergraduate and graduate levels. A new introductory course on applications of psychology to oneself and to society is proposed. A common core of courses for graduate students is recommended, with an interdisciplinary emphasis to ensure basic scientific literacy. (AF)

Presents comprehensive consultation model for promoting family and community involvement in the education process of minority youth, highlighted by cooperative effort between school counselor and school psychologist. Examines three areas of community awareness, family consultation, and paraprofessional development. (NB)

A national survey determines that, following the passage of Public Law 94-142 relating to services for handicapped children, there has been a general increase in the number of states establishing certification standards for school support service positions. The positions most affected were in speech pathology and school psychology. (SLD)

Presents survey results from 259 counseling and clinical-psychology graduates about their training and professional work experiences with diverse groups, particularly blacks, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, and blacks of Hispanic origin. Results indicate that opportunities for training with diverse clients are restricted. Training…

Considers individual differences in cognitive and social functioning and how and why those differences are measured. Presents some issues that are believed to be historically important to the development of testing, particularly intelligence testing, and consequently to the practice of school psychology. Discusses some continuing problems with…