This study used surveys, interactive focus groups, and telephone interviews to explore the concept of advocacy and advocacy activities experienced by 32 parents and 11 individuals with developmental disabilities. Advocacy activities and supports (such as communication skills and networking) and barriers to successful advocacy (such as costs and…

Provides an analysis of the development of contemporary terrorism research to be used as a model for the analysis of how knowledge in specialized communities evolves and influences decision making regarding policies and programs. The use of online bibliometrics and implications for information retrieval are discussed. (82 references) (Author/LRW)

Examines the impact of decentralized decision making for HIV prevention from the Centers for Disease Control to the state and local level. Reviews change management strategies necessary to make the transition to community planning for HIV prevention. (SK)

Medicaid managed care will have an important impact on Medicaid recipients and uninsured people who live in cities. This article identifies roles for social workers in supporting clients in the transition to Medicaid managed care and in advocating for policies that will improve access to care for disadvantaged urban populations. (RB)

Addresses the managed health care initiatives which impact the way that social workers deliver services to people with severe mental illness. Recommends social workers stay abreast of developments in managed care, use efficacy information more systematically, and promote consumer involvement in the design, implementation, and monitoring of managed…

Summarizes some of the activities the United States government has undertaken to control the dissemination of information since 2001. It also explores, through a conceptual model of information flows, potential impacts and discontinuities between policy purposes and outcomes. (AEF)

Summarizes the strategic planning process and findings outlined in the final report of the Iowa Community Colleges @ 2000 research project, initiated by the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees. Addresses the continued importance of access, workforce preparation, quality and the identification of best practices. (Contains 10 references.)…

Discusses archiving digital information and the need for organizations to develop policies regarding digital asset management (DAM) and storage. Topics include determining the value of digital assets; formats of digital information; use of stored information; and system architecture, including hardware and asset management software. (LRW)

Describes current perspectives on evidence-based practices in psychology, medicine, and education; discusses challenges in the implementation and dissemination of research-based findings into schools; describes differences between current models of organizational behavior as studied in children's mental health services and in education; and…

Discusses information policy in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Topics include access to government records, including Freedom of Information Act issues; removing or expanding information on government Web sites; state actions; coordination versus secrecy in homeland security; and patterns and trends in federal and state…

Describes a new feature in "Teacher Education and Special Education" that will focus on contemporary research, policy, and practice in teacher education, which is designed to encourage a high level of discourse about pressing teacher education issues that affect the preparation of special- and general-education teachers. (CR)

A cost-effectiveness evaluation of an Arthritis Self-Management Program assessed direct and indirect costs through self-reporting of health services use. Diminished productivity and effectiveness were measured through a visual analog scale and the health status dimensions of the Canadian Medical Outcomes Study short form. (JOW)

This article discusses how persons with developmental disabilities construct identities as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB), and how policymakers handle LGB issues. It discusses disabling practices and demonstrates how they can be uncovered out of and within policy. Recommendations are made for amelioration, along with suggestions for creating more…

Describes South Carolina's new state early childhood program, First Steps to School Readiness. Includes a profile of the state's at-risk child population, noting poverty and education risk indicators, and describing key program components. The article discusses program oversight, local program partnerships, program funding mechanisms, and local…

Contemporary implications of student press censorship were explored using the case study of "The Catalyst," an underground student publication at Texas Tech University during 1969-1971. Recommendations include a proactive administrative approach toward building rapport with student publications, establishing constitutionally based uniform policies…