Contents of this book include the following essays which originally appeared in "Transaction" magazine: (1) "Poor Americans: an introduction," Marc Pilisuk and Phyllis Pilisuk; (2) "How the white poor live," Marc Pilisuk and Phyllis Pilisuk; (3) "The culture of poverty," Oscar Lewis; (4) "Life in Appalachia--the case of Hugh McCaslin," Robert…

State and federal policymakers should consider research findings that demonstrate how quality early childhood programs prevent later academic failure among children from low-income families. Recommends ways funding and programs should be implemented. References included. (CJH)

This book synthesizes the views of California's preeminent rural development researchers on how immigration is transforming rural California communities. It draws on papers presented at two conferences held in Asilomar and Riverside (California) in 1995 and 1996. Conference participants were asked to consider whether rural poverty is being…

This report constitutes a step toward designing an integrated strategy for rural poverty reduction in Brazil. The report contains an updated and detailed profile of the rural poor in the northeast and southeast regions of Brazil; identifies key components of rural poverty in those regions; and proposes a five-pronged strategic framework in which…

This guide focuses on these two key challenges that states and localities have identified as important for the long-term success of welfare reform and work force development efforts: helping low-income parents sustain employment (steady work) and advance in the work force (better jobs). The guide consists of five parts and is structured to…

Describes evolutionary program development model to guide planning of services for farm families experiencing financial problems. Model forms basis for joint state and local program. Flexible structure enables initial responsive service and evolutionary development. Evaluation provides feedback for continuing development, improvement, and…

Discusses successes and problems of Head Start. Suggests that Head Start's difficulties relate to its implementation, not its design. Proposes increasing the effectiveness of Head Start through a series of reform strategies that relate to interventions that address the needs of children in child care, preschool children, and school-age children.…

Discusses rural poverty in Bangladesh and describes the creation of the Grameen Bank, which combines business with social engineering. The rapid diffusion of the bank both within and outside Bangladesh is described; interpersonal strategies used in communicating its programs, especially to women, are explained; and the socioeconomic impact in…

This question-and-answer format paper looks at some of the basic issues surrounding the chronically poor and initiatives and services designed to break the poverty cycle. A first section explores some of the myths and realities surrounding the characteristics of the chronically poor population and notes that this population is comprised of…

This publication is the text of the House of Representatives bill, H.R. 5600 introduced to the U.S. Congress and titled "Children's Initiative." This legislation is designed to promote family preservation and the prevention of foster care with emphasis on families where abuse of alcohol or drugs is present, to improve the quality and…

This paper discusses the issues surrounding the transition from home or preschool to elementary school for children from low-income families, and examines the future direction of transition programs to help alleviate many of the difficulties that these families face. Noting that there are two venues for reform action, the curriculum and the family…

This research review focuses on the effects of early intervention on the preschool children of low-income families, examining studies of intervention programs begun in the 1960s through the present. It then relates this analysis to the new Georgia Prekindergarten Program. The interventions reviewed are grouped into four hierarchical categories…

This report examines the causes and effects of Appalachian poverty, focusing on education, unemployment, social services, and economic development. The data in the report were extracted from the 1980 U.S. Census. Although there has been a steady decline in Appalachian poverty rates since the landmark 1964 declaration of a War on Poverty,…

OF THE 601 YOUTHS WHOSE CHARACTERISTICS WERE STUDIED IN PHASE I (VT 004 090), 377 WERE NOT PLACED IN JOBS OR TRAINING WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THEIR INITIAL INTERVIEW AT THE JOB CENTERS. OF THESE, 201 WERE INTERVIEWED DURING PHASE II TO DETERMINE THE TRAITS WHICH DISTINGUISHED THEM FROM OTHERS WHO HAD BEEN PLACED BY THE CENTERS, AND THE FACTORS…

A COMMUNITY PROFILE OF ROCHESTER, N.Y. CITES HISTORY, PRESENT COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS, AND CURRENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AS THEY RELATE TO CULTURAL DEPRIVATION AND AN ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAM. TO DETERMINE WHAT EFFECTS HISTORICAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL FORCES HAVE UPON HEAD START CHILDREN, MATCHED GROUPS OF EIGHT HEAD START…