These newsletters are produced by Voices for Illinois Children, a child advocacy group that works to make kids "count" in Illinois and to ensure that the basic needs of all children, families, and communities are met. The spring 1996 issue provides membership information and network news, as well as articles addressing the following…

Four case studies examined the effects of using taped books to teach reading to at-risk elementary school students in rural West Virginia. The study involved two kindergarten students who were identified as at risk for developing reading difficulties and two first-grade students who had been classified with a learning disability. The intervention,…

This booklet presents a short history of the Head Start program and discusses some of the challenges that the program will face in the 1990s. Project Head Start, begun in 1965, has helped 12.5 million children become better prepared to start school, and has grown to be the largest early childhood and family education program in the country. From…

A collaborative training initiative for promoting best practices in early intervention was evaluated as part of a statewide outreach grant funded by the Early Education Program for Children with Disabilities, U.S. Department of Education and conducted by the Maine Bureau of Children with Special Needs. Project Reach ME developed and conducted…

This final report describes activities of a 3-year Kansas project which attempted to provide services to children and youth with deaf blindness and provide technical assistance to agencies, institutions, and organizations providing services to these children. The major emphasis of the grant was to provide specific support in such areas as…

This keynote speech addressed the growing concern among educators, parents, and the community about the instances of extreme aberrant behavior by school children and young adults. Understanding and responding to children or young people who present disturbing behavior is difficult since no two individuals act in the same way, nor are the reasons…

A lack of adequate substance abuse information at an elementary school prompted this practicum examining at risk students. Classroom guidance lessons on substance abuse prevention were given, which included small group counseling sessions regarding self-esteem and problem-solving skills, followed by posttests. Classroom guidance lessons revealed a…

This book examines the growing epidemic of children born to mothers who use cocaine, particularly the highly addictive version known as "crack," focusing on the health and educational needs of such children. Nine chapters address: (1) the origins of cocaine use in the United States, as well as the chemical properties and physiological…

This report describes the activities of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, founded in 1982 as a public-private partnership to promote the well-being of Illinois children and families through various health and education programs. The Fund focuses its efforts on communities with limited resources, mainly in the Chicago metropolitan area. Among the…

This book discusses issues involved in the current debate over the nature and effectiveness of anti-poverty programs, and examines the high economic and social costs of, and the risk factors involved in, cyclical poverty. The book offers suggestions to help solve the problems of cyclical poverty and chronic disadvantage by highlighting effective…

This guide provides precise, detailed descriptions of empirically validated best practices to promote learning in infants and young children with disabilities. It is designed to be a practical and comprehensive, easy-to-read introductory methods text that addresses the fundamental issues associated with implementing the legislative mandates of the…

This issue paper is based on recommendations of a February, 1991 meeting on promoting child health through Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part H emphasizes family-centered care; service coordination; comprehensive services; collaboration among service providers and funding sources; outreach to traditionally…

This report describes programs for Alaska's children. Discussed are the efforts of the Governor's Interim Commission on Children and Youth to construct a coherent, long-term, and effective children's policy for the state. A comprehensive system of services rooted in prevention and intervention is proposed for future long-term policy development.…

This guide for New York City parents of preschool children (ages 3 to 4) with possible disabilities is intended to provide necessary information about legal rights as well as a description of the evaluation and placement processes. Specifically addressed are the following topics: the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE); timing of…

A lack of education is a major cause of poverty among many Kentucky citizens. In 1986, Kentucky's dropout rate was the second highest of the 50 states. That same year, Kentucky established the Parent and Child Education (PACE) Program in an effort to combat the problems of insufficient education and poverty that tend to be perpetuated from…