A survey of 186 Mississippi social workers investigated attitudes toward poverty and the poor. Results show a relatively positive attitude, particularly among older and more experienced professionals. Discusses findings related to type of social work practice, level of educational attainment, licensure status, and political orientation. (MSE)

Describes the Ignatian Lay Volunteer Corps (ILVC), an organization of retired people who volunteer to serve the poor by teaching and counseling. Suggests that ILVC volunteers want to help others as a way of giving back what they have been given. (AJL)

A study examining discipline styles among five midwestern African American families from various socioeconomic backgrounds revealed the interpersonal, social, and cultural aspects of discipline in African American families. Offers social work intervention strategies that reinforce alternative discipline styles and recognize parents' need to teach…

Survey of 67 bachelor-level human service workers measured aspects of job satisfaction and intent to pursue graduate education. Results support the hypothesis of stronger intention among satisfied senior practitioners (in jobs for three or more years) than among dissatisfied junior workers. Secondary findings include other explainers of intention,…

Examines career group literature in terms of group process variables of therapeutic factors, client composition, and leadership variables. Denotes function of process variables as "used" (factor emphasized as significant part of career group intervention) or "examined" (factor either measured or manipulated). Presents…

Interview with Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Discusses his views on health education, budget, access to health care, minority health, abortion, infant mortality, drugs, the Head Start Program, federal planning effects, and family influences. (JS)

Issues involved in preparing personnel for intergenerational work include the following: (1) the scope of intergenerational practice; (2) expanded personnel roles in intergenerational programs; (3) competencies and skills identification; and (4) the need to integrate intergenerational preparation into formal human services training and education.…

Examines aspects of family structure, child-rearing practices, and help-seeking behavior in African American culture, and areas of conflict with the dominant American culture that result in ineffective social services delivery. Recommends that child welfare workers cultivate culturally sensitive, nonjudgmental attitudes. Contains 39 references.…

A framework is presented for developing collaborative, community-based programs to assist substance-using women and their young children. Five types of service providers are identified: medical personnel, welfare and child protective services, illicit drug use and mental health programs, community protection services, and ethnically based advocacy…

Discusses the debate on curriculum content and quality for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Points out that new and imaginative patterns of teaching and learning need to be explored across those children's lifespans. Suggests that through high quality early intervention and an innovative curriculum, educators must ensure…

Issues that arose in attempting to survey people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are described. Questions of confidentiality, nonimplementation, and slow accrual of information are considered for an initial sample of 2,731 cases. Comparison with a database concerning 1,313 clinic clients indicates overrepresentation of compliant…

Data were gathered from all state Medicaid programs, 11 health insurance carriers, and 140 firms offering health insurance to employees, concerning coverage of various services needed by young children with disabilities, including ancillary therapies, mental health services, and case management. Results revealed that Medicaid offered the greatest…

Presents a solution-focused treatment model that incorporates macro and micro views of ethnic differences and similarities. It is argued that not all clients from the same ethnic group experience life in similar ways. Use of the model is explored through a discussion of the treatment of Asian-American clients. (SLD)

The six articles of this special section address the organizational context that shapes utilization of mental health services, the relevance of data elements and results to decision making, and assuring the validity of evaluation results. Theoretical and practical concerns are considered. (SLD)

Examines the social environments, staff behavior and social interaction of 72 elderly clients in adult day care centers, using qualitative research techniques. When the staff and environment were more infantilizing, provided less autonomy and fewer opportunities for privacy regulation, clients had lower social interaction with peers. In contrast,…