Information about education and social services for Spain's disabled children and adults, with emphasis on the hearing-impaired population, is provided. An overview of Spain's demographic and historical background is followed by a broad discussion of policy, legislation, and health and welfare services. (Author/JDD)

The key concepts and methodologies of quality assurance programs used in health service delivery systems are reviewed, and it is suggested they could be readily applied to Canadian universities as a powerful administrative and curricular development tool that would define and enhance the quality of students' educational experiences. (Author/MSE)

Health care system changes since 1965 are reviewed. Areas in which hospital dental care can contribute to improved dental services are discussed, including the promotion of dentistry as primary care, progress in obtaining adequate reimbursement for oral health care, integration with other health professions, and improvement of credentialing and…

A meta-analysis of studies examining the interrater reliability of the standard practice of peer assessments of quality of care was conducted through the use of several databases. The mean weighted kappa of 21 findings from 13 studies was 0.31, which suggests that the interrater reliability of peer assessment is limited. (SLD)

A pilot study in three rural Colorado communities that focused on health service delivery problems related to cancer concentrated on perceptions of community influentials, health care providers, and patients and their families. Results indicate that qualitative methods can identify crucial problems for most people without losing sight of outlier…

Argues that although home visiting programs themselves have mixed results in addressing family health and welfare needs, such programs, as part of a comprehensive, family-focused health and social services system, can have an important impact on the health and welfare of children. (MDM)

Describes the Massachusetts experience of developing medication-administration regulations for public and private schools and implementing those regulations within the commonwealth. The model recognizes that school nurses and school physicians are the decision makers about medications in school. The regulations demand that school districts…

Summarizes efforts by state governments to regulate managed care and examines the various actions that states have initiated to credential managed care plans that desire to provide care for Medicaid beneficiaries. In the long run, organizations other than state regulatory agencies may be better equipped to regulate managed care. (SLD)

Preliminary results from the Health Care Reform Tracking Project's baseline survey and site visits to 10 states show that managed care has generally improved access to health care for children, but it has made it more difficult for youths with serious emotional disorders, and uninsured children, to obtain care. (SLD)

Reviews the basic decisions states must make when implementing State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs and reports on the decisions states participating in this federal program have made, as reflected in the plans they submitted to the Health Care Financing Administration. Sources of information about the program are included.…

Describes schoolwide asthma screening in an inner-city Minneapolis elementary school, discussing the effectiveness and feasibility of the screening efforts. Screening methodology resulted in a simple, noninvasive, efficient approach for identifying children with current asthma in a school setting. The paper proposes how such a screening program…

College students in a course, Health Service Delivery to Diverse Populations, examined the health-care needs and experiences of homeless people by surveying homeless people in Nashville, TN. This article presents the story of one homeless man and his transition off the streets. A photo essay chronicles his journey from the streets back into life…

Full-service community schools combine three concepts--mind, body, and building--into an integrated approach placing quality education and comprehensive support services at one site. The DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund is helping schools and communities replicate 4 such programs at 60 sites in 20 U.S. cities. (MLH)

Examined the mix of educational, health, and psychosocial services received by 869 five-year-olds participating in the Infant Health and Development Program. Found that neonatal health conditions, maternal education at child's birth, child developmental status at age 3, and maternal health, family income, and insurance status at age 5 were…

Presents a model intervention program for young children with disabilities based on a public health approach that is empirically driven, with correspondence rules relating the independent to the dependent variables. The program was designed to provide a total-service intervention for infants prenatally exposed to cocaine. (Author/CR)