This module is one of 13 in the "Grow to 5" series, which is a revised and updated version of Florida's "Model of Interdisciplinary Training for Children with Handicaps (MITCH)." This 3-hour module focuses on training educators and other service providers in principles of family functioning and coping with stress. The module…

The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) at the University of Colorado at Boulder identified 11 prevention and intervention programs that met a strict scientific standard of program effectiveness. This bulletin describes the CSPV's selection criteria in choosing model programs (e.g., evidence of deterrent effect when using a…

This fact sheet on mental retardation is written in both English and Spanish. It begins with a vignette of a 15-year-old boy with mental retardation. Mental retardation is briefly explained as are some causes of mental retardation. It notes that a diagnosis of mental retardation looks at two things: first, the ability of a person's brain to learn,…

This initial issue of "Early Edition" launches the first edition of Tennessee's newsletter dedicated to the implementation of programs and services for young children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The period of early childhood is the foundation for all future learning and achievement for…

This study examined the variety of service delivery models used to provide services to preschool children with disabilities in nine diverse communities across three states (Colorado, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania). Information was derived primarily from interviews conducted with community preschool program administrators, service providers, and…

This final report details the activities of the Charlotte Circle Outreach, a program designed to provide technical assistance and training to early intervention programs offering services to infants and young children with substantial disabilities, ages birth through two years. This mission was accomplished through cooperative planning with…

Researchers have long been interested in why some children have behavioral and developmental problems while others appear to develop "normally." A substantial body of research supports the notion that a child's early experiences--from birth to school entry--can influence significantly later cognitive, behavioral, educational, and…

This guide is intended to offer suggestions for enhancing educational opportunities for young children in Iowa with special needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE) as required by both state and federal law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as amended in 1997 (IDEA 97). Emphasis is on IDEA 97's definition and…

This special double issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" explores issues for parents who are members of Interagency Coordinating Councils (ICCs) for their states' early intervention programs. The first article discusses issues parents may want to consider before they assume new roles in their ICC and in related activities. It also…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a program at the University of Oregon designed to address the ongoing need for leadership personnel who are experts with infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children who are at risk or have disabilities and their families. The program was designed to prepare a minimum of 10 doctoral…

This final report describes activities and achievements of the PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants) Outreach Project, a 3-year effort that developed a parent-child play group model and a training approach for personnel implementing this early intervention model. The project trained more than 1,000 early intervention and early head start…

This report discusses policies and practices for family-directed child evaluation and assessment under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The scope of the report includes practices across the early childhood spectrum, from birth through 5 years. Commonly used terminology is defined. Issues discussed include: the primacy of…

This paper provides an overview of Reading Recovery, a preventative one-on-one tutoring program that targets first-grade students whose reading skills place them in the lowest 10-20% at their school. First implemented in the United States in 1986, by 1995-96, the program was being used by over 9,000 schools in 2,940 districts. Key components of…

The Leadership Education Adventure Partnership (LEAP) is a program of For Love of Children in Washington, D.C., that aims to turn the lives of at-risk adolescents toward healthy development and a productive future. Beginning at age 10, LEAP involves youth in wilderness adventure activities that help them discover their strengths and develop…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a project designed to train specialists to work collaboratively across settings to improve the outcomes of young children with language and learning disabilities. It provided education for trainees that led to a Masters degree in speech-language pathology with a specialty in early…