This study surveyed about 290 institutional members of either the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, or the American Association of State Colleges and Universities which are located in urban or metropolitan areas in order to gather data and to learn about their service areas, their commitment to community service,…

The need to develop "family capital" (the attributes and skills that enable families to carry out their economic, social, and nurturing functions) in inner-city neighborhoods is the focus of this background briefing report. Part I of the report describes the characteristics and causes of distressed communities and their impact on families, and…

The relationship between housing and family well-being and self-sufficiency are explored in this paper's three major sections. The first section provides background information on the relationship between housing and the physical and social well-being of individuals and families and describes the major federal housing initiatives that have been…

This report provides objective information about the relationship of poverty, welfare, and homelessness to California's regional economy and about the design of programs that help people in poverty build working lives. California does not have enough jobs for its workforce, and welfare caseloads are consequently determined by the economy. The…

In January 1994, the Chicago Urban League (Illinois) brought together 11 of Chicago's leading scholars and community leaders for a discussion of the intersection of race and poverty. Nearly 300 people attended the symposium. The tone of the opening panel,"Racial/Ethnic Community Structures and the Making of Public Policy," was set by…

This book aims to present what is known about homeless children and to let the stories of some homeless families make their situations clear. The first part of the book covers the background and social, educational, and health issues of homeless children, with a discussion of causes. Part 2 presents some stories of homeless youth and families,…

The principalship was studied from the perspective of newly appointed principals in the highly bureaucratized urban context of New York City. Their attitudes, goals, and role and leadership behaviors and the effects of the school-system context were studied. Interviews were conducted with 12 principals from one Pre-K-1, seven elementary and three…

This book relates a fictionalized year in the life of an elementary school. Told from the perspective of an elementary school principal, whose school is located in a poor, urban neighborhood, the stories portray the daily struggles of the children, teachers, and principal. Some of the themes explored include chaos and violence, problem students,…

Case studies of seven black school superintendents in the 1970s reveal the magnitude and complexity of problems they face. This 1980 book begins with a chapter on urban crisis, examining deprivation and deterioration in the inner cities. The role of the superintendent and the challenges and deficiencies of urban education are discussed. Profiles…

This publication is first in a series of annual updates of statistical information about young children and their families living in poverty in the United States. It builds on the report "Five Million Children: A Statistical Profile of Our Poorest Young Citizens," and incorporates information from the 1990 March Supplement to the Census…

The understandings of and interest in the environment of children in an inner-city black community were studied. To investigate their environmental moral reasoning, children's evaluations and supporting justifications were assessed regarding a hypothetical scenario that involved polluting a local waterway. Seventy-two children, 12 males and 12…

The underlying causes of black urban poverty are examined, and means are recommended to escape the cycle of violence it creates. Black activists and scholars analyze theoretical and practical problems facing the black community in the United States in the following papers: (1) "Towards a Theory and Strategy for Black Economic…

In response to the increasing numbers of homeless families, Homes for the Homeless surveyed families in emergency shelters in Newark (New Jersey) to gain some insights into the characteristics and circumstances of urban homeless families. Newark was chosen because it is a large urban center with a high concentration of welfare recipients that is…

This report explores the risks that threaten to trap children in Oakland (California) in a cycle of persistent poverty. It examines the factors that may lead to lives of continued poverty: being a member of a poor family and having a dangerously low weight at birth, not having access to quality education and training, and spending the formative…

This paper, developed from the discussions of the Executive Session on Making the System Work for Poor Children, describes why the current human service system is failing to help many poor children, and maps out the dimensions of a system that could greatly improve these children's prospects. The argument is made that the current system's problems…