A national survey of 53 state coordinators of gifted programs identified 51 preschool programs for gifted children, located at public schools, university campuses, and private sites. Thirty jurisdictions reported serving gifted kindergarten children in more than 2,655 school districts. Funding sources and services to gifted disadvantaged children…

Assessments of family needs made by interagency early intervention teams and individual professionals were compared to assessments of their own needs made by mothers of young children with disabilities. Individual professionals matched only 47% of mothers' responses, while team assessments matched 57% of mothers' responses. (Author/JDD)

This commentary finds that the study reported in EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, is reliable, correct, and important. The commentary supports the use of quasi-random assignment to experimental or control group when truly random assignment is not…

This commentary examines at-risk students who are seen as in danger of losing control of their lives because of external loci of control and society's lack of coherent self-control. At-risk students are considered to be suitable candidates for intervention as much as students with more conventional disabilities. (PB)

A model for developing systemwide interventions for behavioral and social skill deficits in preschool children with handicaps is discussed. The model incorporates a comprehensive, curriculum-based approach to assessment and program planning and a competency-based, didactic approach to teaching behavioral and social skills. (Author/DB)

This article examines issues related to treatment acceptability in early intervention programs, by applying concepts pertaining to collaboration, cultural difference, compliance and freedom of choice, family life cycles, and systems theory. A paradigm for designing home-based intervention plans with families of preschoolers with behavior disorders…

The study followed up, at preschool age, 39 high-risk infants who had received infant stimulation services for at least 6 months. Results indicated positive developmental progress by the children and the provision, by most parents, of an average to above average environment. Families had remained relatively intact. (DB)

A national survey assessing the degree and kind of family intervention services received was completed by 503 mothers with handicapped children in early intervention programs. Factor analysis was performed and items used to construct the Family-Focused Intervention Scale with 5 reliable subscales. Comparisons among groups of mothers supported…

This article confronts concerns in providing family intervention services to the growing population of non-White, non-Anglo families. Strategies are offered for gathering information about these families while respecting their nonmainstream culture, values, and beliefs. Alternative perspectives on child rearing, disability, medicine, intervention,…

Program for Assessment and Support is an early intervention program for at-risk children in the Aurora (Colorado) Public Schools. PAS teachers work side-by-side with regular classroom teachers, concentrating on children needing extra background and support. Key elements are high expectations for students, a developmental curriculum, cooperation…

Early identification of hearing loss and provision of amplification as close to birth as possible can facilitate collaboration of the audiologist, therapist, and parents in providing the child with optimal use of aided residual hearing for the purpose of listening and processing language. The philosophy underlying the auditory-verbal intervention…

Project First Step serves potentially gifted student populations at 10 inner-city schools in southeast San Diego (California), in a community comprised of Latino, African-American, and Indo-Chinese families. The program's three components include student readiness, teacher training, and parent involvement. (JDD)

Argues that although home visiting programs themselves have mixed results in addressing family health and welfare needs, such programs, as part of a comprehensive, family-focused health and social services system, can have an important impact on the health and welfare of children. (MDM)

The Head Start community has recognized that the mental health program has been a weak spot in the program's comprehensive services strategy. A brief telephone survey of 101 programs identified the services most desired and resulted in recommendations for strengthening this aspect and making the program a laboratory for innovative practices. (SLD)

A tool called the Family Hierarchy of Equilibrium was developed to assess the configuration and balance of significant factors in the lives of families participating in early intervention programs. Critical life factors assessed include parent educational level, mental/physical health, alcohol/drug use, adult/child abuse, nutrition, housing, and…