This article describes legislative and policy provisions that support educational services for children with disabilities in Alberta. It presents an overview of present policy and examines how it translates into inclusive practices. Three collaborative initiatives are highlighted: collaboration with the Ministry for Children's Services,…

Describes the combined efforts of Head Start and the Job Corps to improve the quality of life for young people and their families in San Diego, California, where Job Corps students constructed the local Head Start center. Several students had children in the Head Start program. (BB)

The lack of agreement on the nature and extent of the problem of prenatal exposure to substances is discussed. Comprehensive coordination of services is called for. The 14 programs in the Los Angeles County Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) are discussed. (GH)

Progress toward effective service delivery to young children with handicaps and their families is impeded by lack of coordination at local levels and variations in eligibility requirements and population definitions. A centralized interagency identification/referral program was found to facilitate data utilization for decision-making, interagency…

The assessment of interests, skills, and needs of handicapped students related to work, home, community, and leisure should begin at a very young age and be closely connected to a functional curriculum. A framework for developing a community-wide interagency career assessment process is described. (Author/DB)

Some behavior disordered children drift from agency to agency, with little continuity or communication among services. The price paid is a high one, not only in dollars, but also in terms of negative personal, family, professional, and community consequences. A sense of interagency collaboration needs to be revitalized. (JW)

The Florida Juvenile Justice Act of 1994 reorganized and redefined the juvenile justice system. The Act fosters innovation in response to juvenile crime, with five levels of restrictiveness. It also provides for benchmarks to evaluate the system and defines the responsibility of the public school system in prevention, education, and community…

This article examines ways in which state departments of education can ensure that students who are incarcerated receive needed educational services. Guidelines for collaboration among agencies include sharing information and resources and making full commitment to the partnership. A checklist fosters self-evaluation by state departments of…

Describes the plight of homeless families in the United States, examining the special role that Head Start programs can play in homeless families' lives. Suggests that Head Start programs need to address staff training, family recruitment, health services, transportation, flexible scheduling, home-based options, attendance, parent education,…

Coordination of early intervention for children with disabilities is discussed, including barriers to interagency coordination. A 2-year study of 6 diverse states identified 13 ways in which public agencies are different from one another. Recommendations are offered to assist agencies to develop a coordinated service system. (Author/SW)

Discusses 10 years of research on intergovernmental relations in education policy and examines current intergovernmental issues. Overall, governmental action at all levels is revealed to be largely unproductive. The author states that policies need to be more robust and sophisticated without losing sight of the realities of the classroom and that…

This study investigated viewpoints of 290 parents and 267 professionals concerning early intervention services for infants and young children with disabilities in the light of requirements of Public Law 99-457. Major concerns of both groups related to accessing services, developing Individualized Family Service Plans, and coordinating services.…

This paper examines school restructuring, the national education goals, and opportunities to improve the quality of education for adolescents with behavioral disorders. The paper favors adjustment as a goal along with achievement, a focus on broad outcomes of education, and links between mental health and education. (JDD)

New Beginnings is a collaborative effort involving the city and county of San Diego, the school district, and the San Diego Housing Commission. The project's Center for Children and Families provides about 200 families with comprehensive family service planning, counseling, prevention, referral, and health education as needed. Success demands…

Synthesizes results from four evaluations of the PATCH (Planned Approach to Community Health) program. Two examined multiple state and community programs, one examined one state, and one reviewed methods and materials of state and local coordinators. The article discusses specific recommendations for conducting PATCH and Centers for Disease…