Ten staff members of residential facilities for individuals with mental retardation were trained in self-monitoring procedures, to increase staff on-task behavior and adherence to scheduled activities. Increases in both on-schedule and on-task behavior resulted, and generalization to evening hours occurred. Supervisor feedback was subsequently…

Presents testimony given at a Congressional briefing on findings of the National Child Care Staffing Study. The study concerned the staffing and budgeting crisis in the child care industry as a whole and the University of Pittsburgh Child Development Center in particular. (Author/BB)

Describes a survey of 213 day care centers and public libraries designed to show the extent of library programs for day care children and workers and whether they are meeting audience needs. Discussion includes rate of library use, type of services offered and used, and a comparison between services offered and services requested. (15 references)…

Training in appropriate physical management and handling procedures for caregivers of four children with severe and multiple disabilities found positive effects on the children's orientation, communication, and social interaction skills. The importance of appropriate physical managing and handling in natural environments for enhancement of…

Describes alternative conceptions to the connection between music and movement by relating aspects of recent research on infant-caregiver interaction to musical development. Claims that existing explanations seem to fall short of providing an explanation adequate for the immediate, expressive, and integrated nature of this bond. (MOK)

Describes characteristics of homeless families and their living conditions. Presents characteristics specific to homeless children, and discusses strategies for working with homeless children and supporting their families in early childhood care and education settings. (HTH)

Describes the "Parents as Partners" program, a partnership between parochial and public schools, which provides parents and adult relatives with English reading and writing instruction so that they may assist their children in school. Indicates that the program's attrition and attendance rates compare favorably with other literacy…

Presents ideas expressed by prospective childcare administrators (early childhood education students) in papers addressing their visions of an ideal childcare center. Some of the ideas presented cover salary ranges, size of the center, student diversity, placement of the center, and innovative ideas related to personnel benefits and building…

Factors that place older adults at risk for problems associated with the bereavement process are identified and discussed. Provides guidelines for distinguishing between normal bereavement depression and clinical depression, discusses the impact of different types of loss, describes three types of intervention, and explores countertransference.…

Implementation of a pyramid model to teach behavior management strategies to the staff of an integrated childcare center found improvements in performance of the three trained "specialists," improvements in other staff trained by the specialists, changes in child behavior, and general satisfaction with the training procedures. (DB)

A survey of 47 state child protection services assessed the status of implementation of out-of-home protection programs since 1984. The survey addressed state law and regulations, reporting out-of-home abuse and neglect, properly constituted authority, independent investigative agencies, role of licensing, training, and staff and foster parent…

Outlines attachment theory, focusing on ideas regarding children's attachment to persons other than primary caregivers. Utilizes attachment theory in drawing implications for classroom operation, day care center organization, and governmental policies. The attachment paradigm is seen as providing a theoretical basis for improving day care…

This study, involving four staff members in an institution for people with mental retardation, found that a computerized system of prompts to improve staff-client interactions produced more positive statements, improved distribution of interaction among clients, and resulted in delivery of more positive reinforcement than a traditional…

Describes efforts of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education, the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, and the Child Care Employee Project to help make work in the early childhood field a feasible career. Provides addresses and phone numbers for…

Reviews "La Educacion Preescolar: Desafio y Aventura" (Lavanchy Bobsien); "Working towards Better Childcare" (Peeters and Vandenbroeck, editors); "Children's Savings: A Study in the Development of Economic Behavior" (Sonuga-Barke and Webley); "Curvas de Crecimiento Estaturo-ponderal en Escolares" (Saez Crespo and others); and "Helping Bereaved…