A former client of the juvenile justice system argues that neither punitive attack nor passive inaction will cause delinquency to go away. Research suggests the use of early delinquency as an opportunity to alter the trajectory of a life headed toward crime. Rather than focusing on recidivism, researchers should focus on successful rehabilitation.…

Focuses on the sexually aggressive behavior of children and adolescents who have been sexually abused. It provides an overview of the current literature on sexual reactivity, offers theoretical explanations for the incidence of sexually reactive behavior, and discusses implications for prevention and early intervention of this phenomenon. (CH)

Presents the results of a 1988 conference designed to develop and implement a consensus on how to improve child protective services. Offers specific recommendations and describes implementation plans being carried out by dozens of national organizations. (MDM)

This response to a previous article suggesting that programs to prevent mental retardation have failed makes a distinction between prevention knowledge and prevention application and between biological and functional mental retardation. It claims that the knowledge to prevent functional mental retardation exists but has not been implemented. A…

Conceptual and technical problems associated with the use of traditional developmental assessments of young children with disabilities are reviewed. The use of principles of intervention design to guide assessment decision making is discussed. Ecobehavioral analysis and naturalistic interventions are described as promising directions for…

Full-term infants who had slept in the prone position since birth were followed to detect early postural abnormalities and differentiate potential peripheral abnormality from abnormalities of a central origin. Results showed that disappearance of initial signs of abnormality appeared to be muscular, and symptoms disappeared faster when a motor…

Discusses the provisions and impact of Public Law 99-457, an educational entitlement for preschoolers with disabilities. Compares the law to other early childhood programs, especially in terms of its incorporation of an unusual expectation of accelerated progress. (AC)

Maintains that many needy children do not succeed in school because they do not get off to a strong start. Notes the positive impact of comprehensive early intervention programs such as Head Start. Advocates improving the quality and strengthening the accountability of Head Start. (KB)

Notes the heterogeneity of focus in the articles in this issue (PS 525 026-031) and their relation to emotion theory. Explores the implications of the articles' socioemotional themes for early intervention. (HTH)

Documents the direct impact of economic and cultural globalization and new technologies on the material conditions for adolescence and youth. Argues that educational systems and government policies are struggling with the consequences of these changes: new forms of identity, technological competence and practice, and new life pathways for children…

Describes how the principal of a K-2, 400-student suburban elementary school near Flint, Michigan, worked with her staff and superintendent to develop and implement a strategic plan to close the student achievement gap. Reports significant improvement in reading and math scores after 1 year. (PKP)

Social workers have become increasingly involved in providing family-centered services to families with infants and toddlers who have developmental delays. This study examined the perceptions of barriers to family-centered services of 22 family members and 20 services providers in one local services delivery system. A family-centered approach…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an early intervention program based on the Reading Recovery (RR) format could be developed for pairs of struggling readers that would allow them to make accelerated progress similar to that experienced in the 1-to-1 RR tutorial. A preliminary pilot study showed that the RR lesson format could be…

A random sample of 967 early intervention providers in 33 different states completed a telephone survey that was conducted with computer-assisted telephone interview technology. The survey solicited information about the service providers' views of assistive technology (AT) for infants and toddlers with disabilities. In particular, questions…

During the toddler years, nonverbal communication becomes more prominent and developmental differences for children who would later be diagnosed with autism become more distinct. One difference concerns joint attention, a critical milestone that typically emerges during the last quarter of the first year of life and is consolidated at around 18…