This book examines the threat to childhood development posed by living amid chronic community violence and the link between a child's response to growing up in an atmosphere of violence and danger and the social context established for that child by community and caregivers. The 11 chapters in the book are as follows: (1) "The Meaning of…

This policy "alert" summarizes two studies addressing implementation of early intervention for families with infants and toddlers with special needs. The first study examined the distribution of sociodemographic factors associated with underutilization of health and social services. These include poverty, maternal employment, ethnic…

While the commitment to technology for neonatal and infant hearing screening in this country has come a long way and is evolving rapidly, the average age of 18-30 months, at which young children with auditory disabilities are identified, is still unacceptable. The promise of earlier detection, diagnosis, and habilitation of hearing loss is within…

This report describes the development, introduction, and evaluation of the SuperStart comprehensive prekindergarten program adopted by the New York City Public Schools in 1990. By 1991, SuperStart offered 299 classes in 188 schools, providing a developmentally appropriate learning environment to foster cognitive, social, emotional, and physical…

This monograph attempts to provide an overview of current educational issues that affect brain-injured students with special emphasis on the assessment process. An introduction notes recognition of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its definition under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 as well as the increasing numbers of such…

This paper lists practices recommended by the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood concerning Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) programs for infants and young children with special needs and their…

This paper lists practices recommended by the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood concerning the promotion of communication skills in early intervention and early childhood special education programs for infants and young children with special needs and their families. The recommended practices to promote communication…

This publication describes 33 research projects supported by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and completed in 1989, 1990, and 1991. It is the third edition in a series of collected abstracts of completed maternal and child health research projects. Each project abstract contains the name of the grantee, name and address of the…

Local Early Childhood Advisory Committees in Iowa studied early childhood education programs and the need for additional programs in local communities. By August, 1990, committees in 351 of Iowa's 430 school districts had made recommendations to local school boards, the Iowa Department of Education, and the Iowa General Assembly. Types of programs…

This implementation plan for educational programs for young handicapped children was developed in response to the request of the North Carolina General Assembly and involved a survey of the state's 100 counties (of which 75 responded). Information is presented for the following areas: philosophy of serving young children with handicapping…

The Preparation of Special Educators in Essential Early Education program was a 36-credit hour preservice program of the University of Vermont to train Early Childhood Special Educators at the Master's Degree or Certificate of Advanced Study levels. The program prepared students to demonstrate the necessary competencies for providing quality…

This final report describes Project Dakota, an early intervention demonstration project serving newborns to preschoolers with developmental delay or disability in Dakota County, Minnesota, from 1983 to 1986. The first chapter describes the project model (which focuses on increasing the effectiveness of parents in fostering the child's development)…

The problem of illiteracy is intergenerational. Many parents lack the skills, knowledge, and awareness needed to support their children's educational development. Our educational system must be changed so that it places equal priority on education for the child and on academic remediation for the parent. Family intervention programs do not address…

Findings from a synthesis of 27 intervention studies that examined the effects of school-based reading interventions for kindergarten students at-risk for reading difficulties are reported. Results indicated that reading interventions were effective for improving reading outcomes for kindergarten students with disabilities and those at-risk for…

A survey was conducted to determine states' progress towards developing a definition for developmentally delayed infants and toddlers as required by Public Law 99-457, Part H. Results of the survey, conducted in the summer of 1988, indicated that many states had made a great deal of progress toward developing a policy regarding the definition of…