This national study of direct-care staff members working in 101 small community homes for people with mental retardation found an annual staff turnover rate of 57 percent and staff plans to remain in the care-provider position for an average of 5.4 years. Variables associated with both staff turnover rate and intended length of stay are…

Quantitative measures were made of the fundamental frequency patterns of Japanese mother's speech addressed to infants aged 0;3-0;4. Frequency ranges were found to change with repeated attempts to get the infant's attention but were not otherwise altered substantially from normal adult patterns when an initial attempt was made to gain the infant's…

Finds that persons scoring positively on argumentativeness and negatively on aggressiveness reported behaviors consistent with the authoritative parenting style and that negative argumentativeness and positive aggressiveness is associated with the authoritarian prototype. (SR)

Describes family policy analysis course, Child Care Think Tank, which was expanded to include off-campus version of the course. Explains how courses were redesigned and linked as an advocacy and empowerment process. Describes how students in resident course planned and organized statewide conference, prepared technical information for advocacy,…

Examined racial differences in composition of care-related decision-making networks. Data from 244 family caregivers revealed that African Americans were significantly less likely to identify older care recipient as involved or as key decision maker when compared to whites. Older individuals' physical and mental impairments were also important…

Suggests a "provider support team," observing separate from but cooperating with child care regulatory agencies, would be beneficial as a mediator in provider-regulator conflicts and in answering providers' questions and concerns. (HTH)

Adaption of Hispanic (n=51) and non-Hispanic (n=195) white families to having a member with mental retardation was examined using surveys and interviews. Hispanic families differed in socioeconomic status (lower), age of person with mental retardation (younger), religious values (stronger), and in their perceived burden of caring for the mentally…

Examined possibility that extension of traditional family household boundaries foreshadows expanded caregiving system as family lines grow longer. Study of 25 4-generation families found that 1 primary caregiver, either spouse or daughter, generally shouldered responsibility for members in adversity. Caregiving system encompassing more than two…

Examined relationships between adults with mental retardation and their nonhandicapped siblings and the effect of these relationships on the well-being of aging mothers in 411 families. Results indicated mothers whose children provided support to the adult with retardation had better well-being than mothers with no other children or no involved…

Administered Anticipatory Grief Scale (AGS) and Hopkins Symptom Checklist-SCL-90-R to 27 wives who were caring for their spouses suffering from dementia. Alpha coefficient for AGS was 0.84, indicating good internal consistency. AGC was positively and significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, and hostility dimensions of SCL-90-R,…

A national survey of 464 directors of psychology or directors of residential services for public facilities for persons with mental retardation examined procedures used to reinforce work performance of direct-care staff. Managers most frequently used increased staff involvement in management decision making, performance feedback, recognition, and…

In "Journal of Social Issues," Volume 47, Number 2, 1991, first sentence of second full paragraph on page 3 of "Child Care Policy Research" (S. Hofferth and D. Phillips) should read: "To summarize, of the approximately 18.4 million preschool children in 1990, 11.8 were cared for primarily by a relative or sitter, and 6.6 million were in other…

The lack of adequate training contributes to a high turnover rate among child care employees. A training program developed by the University of South Alabama reduced turnover in the Mobile, Alabama, area. Among caregivers who received training, 68% were still employed in the field one year after graduation. (MDM)

Among 1,208 Puerto Rican women in Boston and Hartford responsible for adolescents, the age-adjusted prevalence of current smokers was 29.4%, higher than rates for all adult women. Nonsmoking status was associated with higher educational attainment, presence of a spouse or partner, and regular church attendance. (SV)

Discusses social and didactic dimensions of caregiver behaviors during children's play and changes in caregivers' behaviors as children develop. Compares children's solitary play to play with a caregiver. Addresses the relationship of individual differences in caregiver behaviors to child play, and the effects of parental behavior on children's…