Families adopting older children are faced with three unique transitional tasks: boundary establishment, resolution of losses, and affirmation of roles. Describes these tasks, as well as the challenges to family development, and reframes stresses of adoptive families as normative to the transition process. Presents implications for practice.…

Fifty-six Delaware families who had adopted special needs children were interviewed concerning the adoptions and family support systems. A majority of the children were adopted by White foster families who were adaptable, close-knit, and active in their church. Recommendations are made to increase the likelihood of adoptions for special needs…

Discusses the nature and characteristics of information technology and its implications for education. Strategic directions for educational institutions are recommended: (1) improving academic quality; (2) supporting innovation; (3) developing the resource base; (4) developing partnerships with other organizations; (5) enhancing reputation; (6)…

Eighty-seven children relinquished at birth and adopted before the age of three years into different social classes were assessed in late adolescence. Findings indicated that the school failure of adoptees varies as a function of the social class of the adopive parents: the higher the social class, the lower the number of repeated grades. (RH)

A post hoc examination of 42 teachers' implementation of an innovative program following the establishment of a systematic implementation support system found that implementation varied for different program features and at different sites. (Author/CB)

Discusses the purpose and benefits of revised Anglo American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) and the spectrum of opinion on the value of change in cataloging rules. Topics covered include costs versus benefits, local solutions versus Universal Bibliographic Control, "superimposition" (Library of Congress policy), the International Standard…

As this article emphasizes, permanency planning begins before placement through the adequate provision of assistance and services to families in order to avoid any need to remove children from their homes. Such family-focused prevention programs show promise in meeting needs of child welfare families benefiting children and states. (Author/BB)

Examines the changes initiated to reorient Kentucky's child welfare system to a family prevention model; this includes an examination of the model's goals, the implementation of the model, training of the staff, problems encountered by the initiation of the new model, and an evaluation of the model. (Author/BB)

Reports on a study to determine whether the strategies and tactics employed in the establishment and continuation of well-established honors programs at selected community colleges followed five stages of academic innovation (i.e., exploration, formulation, trial, refinement, and institutionalization). Summarizes the significant activities…

The consultant interested in helping teachers adopt curriculum-based assessment techniques should consider the process of innovation along with aspects of school culture. The consultant should examine four stages in developing a model program: creating a need, supporting change, implementing a guided practice, sequence, and allowing for…

A total of 411 public school teachers participated in a project researching the highly personal experiences and phenomena encountered by individual educators in schools and colleges as they "adopt" educational innovations. (Author/MLF)

This paper synthesizes case studies involving the translation of proposals for educational programs into practice and presents implications for program planners and managers. (Author/IRT)

Ten innovative high school social studies departments in Indiana were investigated to determine their characteristics, such as what innovations have been adopted, educational background of teachers, and organizational climate of the departments. (ND)

Part 1 of this article describes and analyzes American child custody law and the underlying judicial standards used to resolve custody disputes; part 2 discusses the basic indeterminancy of present legal standards; and part 3 explores the possibility of developing less discretionary legal standards for the judicial functions of child protection…