Voluntary associations are an indispensable tool for placing capacity development issues high on local communities' agendas for action. This paper identifies leadership problems faced by professional social workers in their efforts to mobilize voluntary associations to pursue social change objectives at the local level. (Author/MH)

Examined placement prevention programs intended to help troubled families stay together. Contrasted programs which terminated with continuance of family care with programs that ended in placement of children. Found that in the placed cases, problems were worse and more numerous, and family attitudes toward therapists and agencies were less…

An exploratory study of the role of protection and advocacy agencies in investigations of abuse and neglect of institutionalized developmental disabled persons indicated that these agencies play a major role in abuse and neglect prevention in spite of the few staff members and resources allocated to such investigations. (Author/CB)

Describes members of a citizen group as aggressive and dynamic adult learners addressing complex problems. Assistance that adult education agencies might provide similar groups and criteria for determining whether to do so are explored. Contrasts the tradition of serving individual needs with benefits of helping citizens address community…

Lists federal, state, and private organizations that publish statistical data of interest to persons in labor field and focuses on two areas of labor statistics--labor force and employment and unemployment and union membership. Gaps in statistics and users' problems in finding desired data are discussed. Eight references are cited. (EJS)

A national, mandatory, and standardized certification system for teacher educators is recommended. Initial certification requirements would include: (1) a doctorate in education; (2) completion of a minimum of three years successful teaching experience at elementary or secondary school level; and (3) an acceptable score on a standardized test of…

Describes geographical, subject, and chronological aspects of 25 cartographic collections housed in university, public, special, state, and semi-state libraries in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Three size categories of map holdings (more than 10,000, 1,000-10,000, less than 1,000) are distinguished. A list of 27 Sao Paulo institutions housing map collections…

Describes the methods and results of the transfer of the SCAN bibliographic database, sponsored by the Administration on Aging (AoA) to the private sector American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) when Congress repealed authority for AoA. Steps involved in the establishment of a bibliographic database are outlined. Four sources are given.…

Predicts the probably development of four different types of voluntary service organizations (VSO) that have emerged in the last decade, and describes their probable future organizational development, character, and role. (Author/NJ)

Social agencies should discard their negative assumptions about the black male ghetto resident. Agencies can provide positive experiences that support the black man's rightful role as head of his family and responsible member of the community. To illustrate this potential, guidelines that proved effective in work with a black fathers' group in…

In helping disturbed, deprived children and their families, an agency's concept of its treatment task is of vital importance. An effective approach focuses on an agency's functioning as an extended family, and assuming a parenting role. (Editor)

Three articles on accreditation by Richard M. Millard, Robert A. Scott, and David E. Sumler cover ensuring the quality of programs and institutions, the accreditation process and what accreditation is needed by higher education institutions, and the cooperation between the Maryland state agency and a regional accreditation body. (MLW)