Foster children and young people who are coming into care are particularly at risk for suicide. The successful prevention of a crisis depends on the ability of foster parents and agency staff members to understand the nature of the situation and work together in dealing with it. (BC)

The University of Hawaii Department of Special Education conducted the Preschool Preparation and Transition Project, a federally funded demonstration program, to support families and their children with special needs in the transition from infant programs to least restrictive preschool placements. The program addressed this goal through three…

An analysis of evidence from several reviews of research on the benefits of involving parents in early intervention programs shows no convincing evidence that involvement of parents in previous early intervention research studies results in more effective outcomes. Suggestions are made for future research and practice. (SLD)

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that, in most cases, nursery schools, center-based child care facilities, and home care providers be accessible to children with disabilities. Collaborative teams of child care and early intervention providers are suggested as an essential part of the early childhood education and…

Examined the effects of number of hours of early intervention services received by 72 disabled children on benefits received by children and their families. Found that hours of services received were not related to gains in child development levels. Suggests that increased services are not cost effective despite some benefits for mothers. (BCY)

Advocates research on the effectiveness of early intervention programs for disabled children based on scientific method, rather than advocacy of positions. Reviews effective intervention practices. Illustrates use of the biosocial systems research model, examining biological traits in the context of social systems. Discusses benefits of this…

Assessment of 486 first-quarter first graders identified 99 children as being at risk for reading difficulties, half of whom then received a phonological processing intervention. Results support the early identification of children at risk for reading difficulties and the effectiveness of the phonological processing intervention. (DB)

Legislation requires that early intervention services be delivered to young special needs children within the family context. To help rural professionals develop effective partnerships with American Indian families, common family cultural characteristics are outlined: extended family, permissive discipline, respect for children, group orientation,…

This article describes a demonstration project that utilized 28 community early childhood programs as intervention placements for 30 preschool-age children with disabilities. Results suggested significant developmental gains for all children. Service delivery characteristics identified as necessary for the effective implementation of intervention…

Compared dyads of mothers and low-birthweight infants who participated in a comprehensive early intervention program during the infant's first three years with dyads who received pediatric follow-up. Intervention group mothers had higher ratings than follow-up mothers on quality of assistance. Intervention children had higher ratings on…

This commentary argues that the study reported in EC 605 442, which indicated long-term gains for children with autism who experienced intensive behavioral intervention as preschoolers, needs to be replicated to be convincing, especially given the problem of nonrandom assignment of experimental and control groups. (JDD)

This follow-up study of low birthweight children at the age of 4-5 found that 14 control children (who did not participate in early home intervention) scored lower than 31 preterm treatment children and 22 full-term controls on expressive language, comprehension, personal-social skills, visual-motor skills, and home environment. (Author/JDD)

One goal of the Success for All program is that each student in high poverty schools will achieve at or near grade level by the third grade. Describes and gives the rationale behind the program's Family Support Team component, which is concerned with attendance intervention, home visits, parent involvement, and integration with community agencies.…

This article considers the need for early intervention programs for Black and minority children and the problems inherent in seeking solutions within the public school setting. Several suggested safeguards for public school-based programs are offered, followed by a discussion of further action and research issues. (IAH)

In 1990-91 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act Amendments (1986) will require public schools to provide appropriate educational services for three and four year olds with handicapping conditions. This article examines this legislation, the historical factors contributing to its passage, and its implications for children, families, and…