This brochure published in 1984 for parents of blind infants and young children offers suggestions for building the child's language and social skills through talking to the child and interacting in a variety of ways. The importance of talking to the young infant, even though he/she doesn't respond with eye contact, and of learning to recognize…

This report describes a training program designed to assist 15 Southeastern states in preparing quality early intervention personnel to serve young children with disabilities and their families. The goals of the project are described, including: (1) increasing states' progress in implementing the personnel preparation component of Part H of the…

This year at least 2.4 million young Americans will use drugs. Ways in which parents and educators can prevent drug use in youth are presented here. Emphasis is placed on good beginnings. It is recommended that preschool children be taught rules for behavior, and that parents continually remind their children of the potential harm of drug use. In…

This study compiled descriptive information about what states are doing or planning to do with early intervention data systems, a component of early intervention systems as specified in Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The study examined the uses of data systems in eight states: Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,…

This document presents an instrument to help families of special needs children to identify their resources and their concerns, for use in development of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The first part of the instrument includes a series of open-ended questions that provide families an opportunity to identify their concerns, in…

The Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP), an eight-site randomized controlled trial of a comprehensive intervention program combining home visits, child centers, and parent meetings with pediatric follow-up and referral, effectively reduced the incidence of health and developmental problems in a sample of 377 low birth weight, premature…

A case study involved the adaptation of Reading Recovery technique in an attempt to improve the alphabet knowledge of a kindergarten student. Over a 2-week period, recovery techniques were employed in one-on-one sessions, the goal of which was to increase the student's ability to recognize and produce five letters of the alphabet. Assessments…

This information packet is designed to assist local interagency councils to implement Public Law 99-457's requirements concerning the provision of high quality services to preschool children with disabilities and their families. The model described provides a framework for continual coordination of agency programs as well as use of collaboration…

This hearing contains testimony on the Early Head Start program. Testimony was provided by: (1) a director of a state Head Start Association; (2) directors of Head Start programs; (3) a Head Start parent; (4) Olivia A. Golden, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; (5) a state…

This book offers critical perspective on the complex dynamics of politics, class, gender, power, race, and ethnicity in Project Head Start. Moving beyond the literature on Head Start's effects on children's achievement, the volume considers how the program has operated with families, in communities, and with other institutions. Chapters address…

This fact sheet on cerebral palsy is offered in both English and Spanish. First, it provides a definition and considers various causes (e.g., an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the fetal or newborn brain). The fact sheet then offers incidence figures and explains characteristics of the three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid,…

In December, 1991, a representative from the New York State Technical Assistance Resource Network (STARN) presented information about collaboration in early intervention services to a training session for parents and professionals sponsored by the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs. The presentation was based on STARN's work in serving…

This evaluation report of Oregon's early intervention programs describes the Oregon Preschool Assessment System, presents demographic information, and summarizes results of analysis of data on children's progress. It concludes that the infants and children enrolled (2,740 in 1991) are making substantial gains in all areas assessed. These gains…

School-based alcohol and drug abuse prevention and intervention programs have become an integral part of many school systems in the 1990s. Many such programs employ prevention programs with primary, secondary, or tertiary aspects. In primary prevention, the school district develops a climate conducive to the understanding of alcohol/drug abuse…

Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use prevention is a goal shared by many. Prevention strategies aim to both reduce specific problems resulting from substance abuse and promote healthy development. Past efforts at prevention have included a variety of approaches: (1) prohibition; (2) scare tactics; (3) presenting factual information; (4) affective…