Participation, empowerment, and sustainability are basic tenets of community development work of the Inter-American Foundation, but these are difficult to measure. The Grassroots Development Framework breaks these concepts into concrete, measurable components to evaluate sustainability over time and short-term cost/efficiency results of community…

A quarter of nonmetro counties lost population in the 1990s, but population loss was not related to poverty rate or low educational levels, perhaps because low-skill workers can no longer expect better wages in urban areas. Population loss was related to low population density and remoteness (which decrease access to services), lack of natural…

A study investigated the extent to which alternate assessment scores for 41 12th-graders in Kentucky's Alternate Portfolio Program for students with significant disabilities correlated with a measure of post-school outcomes approximately one year after completing school. No significant relationship was found between these two measures. (Contains…

Uses ideological hegemony concept to analyze one local elite's efforts to "sell" community growth. Expands growth ideology research explaining wealth transfer from public to social elite in local areas. Examines government, media roles of disseminating "pro-growth" ideology with case studies. Property, progress, and community identified as central…

The incidence of racial violence and bias crime has increased dramatically in New York City in recent years, the result of a volatile mix of social, political, and economic factors. Worsening racial tensions can be traced to "hypersegregation" and polarization, poverty, homelessness, family breakdown, and failure of the education system.…

Studies of deinstitutionalization for individuals with developmental disabilities show positive effects on skills, behavior, activity level, social interaction, and quality of life. Effects are clearest in adaptive behavior. Outcomes for individuals with severe or multiple disabilities are less positive. Implications for Australian policy are…

Research which makes possible a quantification of the size, composition, and growth of the underclass is discussed. Trends in the quality of life and the growth of the underclass are presented. (CW)

Suggests techniques for camp directors to help older adults enjoy adventure camping. Discusses sociological and psychological changes accompanying aging. Emphasizes outdoor group activities as ways of helping older adults adjust to aging. Offers tips for adventure program development, staff development, and program evaluation. (TES)

Described are the dehumanizing conditions of Black underclass life and possible improvements through creation of re-educative therapeutic communities, termed "powerful environments." Powerful environments include expectations, psychological distancing from negative culture, positive social integration, staff leadership, peer power, work, and…

Analyzes demographic and health trends during the Reagan years. Describes the current nature of health care, federal role, effects of the fiscal crisis on health policy, and repercussions of deregulation of the health-care industry. Presents issues that need to be addressed to prevent severe fragmentation of health care. (MW)

Over 60% of Kenya's secondary schools are nongovernment community-run schools. Analysis of district-level data on adult literacy, secondary enrollment, child health and mortality, malaria prevalence, and rural development indicates that government schooling has few effects. Nongovernment schooling is associated with lower child mortality and other…

The quality of health services is a subject of increasing interest to health care providers and organizations responsible for financing and promoting health services. This paper utilizes family planning programs to explore issues of the quality of health services. Reviews the literature on quality of services and identifies the gaps in research…

Potential methods are explored for removing or otherwise controlling random measurement error, assessment artifacts, irrelevant variation in outcome measures, and confounding sources of covariation in a structural equations model. Using examples with measures of quality of life and functioning, the authors consider these methods for field…

A small town designed a health clinic to entice a health care practitioner to locate in the town, increase the town's economic feasibility, generate local jobs, and stimulate business in the downtown. The design is important to achieving these goals by continuing and enhancing the town's character. (TD)

Considers the effects of educational technology on eastern European countries. Highlights include the relationships among organizations, technology, human resources, and social environment; technological education and society; information systems and the evolution of political, economic, and cultural structures; and the use of free time and the…