Details a demonstration project which was developed to train older adult volunteers as mental health paraprofessionals for nursing homes. Discusses the effectiveness of the program for residents, as well as benefits to the staff. Includes details of recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers, services they provide, and problems…

Two case reports are presented of institutionalized women who were diagnosed as having Prader-Willi syndrome at the ages of 54 and 69. Implications are discussed for management of such persons and for program planning/funding for a much longer life expectancy than earlier realized. (Author/JDD)

Focuses on the various social work skills, roles, and tasks that are useful for shock-trauma service. Discusses strategies and techniques that social workers who are beginners in trauma work can call on to enter this medically oriented system. (Author/ABB)

Studies families showing parenting difficulties and examines possible origins of those difficulties. Findings demonstrate a strong link between multiple parenting breakdown and markedly disrupted family experiences in childhood. Concludes that explanatory models based exclusively on either personal or material factors are inadequate. (RH)

Administered a battery of tests to delinquent adolescent boys (N=100) to measure intelligence, mental control, self-concept and physical fitness. Results indicated significant prediction of prosocial behavior in the year after institutionalization was achieved by using tests that reflected mental control and academic achievement. (LLL)

The repertory grid technique was used to explore psychopaths' interpersonal and personal construct systems. Subjects were asked to construe as individuals, and subjects were asked how they thought people in general construed the situations. Psychopaths showed a significant degree of general misperception about people in general. (Author)

The present study assessed the effects of a companion program on college student volunteers and mental patients. Overall, the effects of companionship were negative for students and patients, while questionnaire responses indicated positive feelings toward the overall program. Because of this discrepancy, caution should be exercised in introducing…

Fundamental changes in public attitudes toward the mentally ill are needed if progress in better treatment is to really continue within this country. (Editor)

Disruptive behaviors were examined in regard to time-of-the-day and day-of-the-week occurance with 67 adult male profoundly mentally retarded special school residents. (Author/IM)

A brief history of the development of child welfare services in America from indenture to day care is given, together with an account of the changing social attitudes that influenced this history. The negative and positive aspects of present practices are also discussed. (MS)

This essay, taken from the 2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book, examines four employment barriers that policymakers and others consider among the most difficult to overcome: substance abuse, domestic violence, a history of incarceration, and depression. These burdens can diminish a person's motivation and ability to find work. Furthermore, they can make it…

This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" includes the following articles: (1) "Residential Treatment: Finding the Appropriate Level of Care" (Shay Bilchik); (2) "Family-Centered Practices" (Rodger McDaniel and Brenden McKinney); and (3) "Can the Community Serve Sex Offenders?" (Point/Counterpoint--Daniel Wallach and Wayne D. Parks).…

This issue of "The Link" includes the following articles: (1) "Oregon Crafts Guidelines for Effective Girls Programming - By Pam Patton and Marcia Morgan" (Pam Patton and Marcia Morgan); (2) "Linking Child Placement and Juvenile Delinquency: Research Examines the Role of Placement in Increased Delinquency Rates"; and (3) "Unlocking the Future:…

This issue of "EDJJ Notes" contains the following articles: (1) "In the News: The Policy of Prosecuting Juvenile Offenders as Adults: A Summary of Key Issues" (Jeffrey M. Poirier); (2) "Youth Transition from a Secure Care Facility" (Megan McGlynn); and (3) "Research to Practice: Self-Management" (Part II of…