Examines four innovative staff training programs in Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, and Washington: four states with varying human service traditions and social needs. Maintains that those involved with the design and development of child protective services training programs should take into account the significant strides made by these four programs.…

Discusses telecommunications in Mississippi and efforts to ensure equal access. Highlights include the development of the telecommunications infrastructure and the various levels of involvement of the Mississippi Library Association, institutions of higher learning and community colleges, the Department of Education, and public libraries. (LRW)

Comments on an article by Dunst and Bruder. Twenty years ago, amendments to the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 99-457, 1986) included language that required each state early intervention system to ensure that families had access to a case manager. The article by the authors and the study conducted as part of the Research and…

Communities of Practice offer state agency personnel a promising approach for engaging stakeholder groups in collaboratively solving complex and, often, persistent problems in special education. Communities of Practice can help state agency personnel drive strategy, solve problems, promote the spread of best practices, develop members'…

State agencies have been exploring a variety of options for addressing the Office of Special Education Program's (OSEP) requirements for measuring outcomes for children in early intervention (Part C) or preschool (Section 619) programs. OSEP requires the measurement of children's performance in three outcome areas: (a) acquisition and use of…

Now that all 50 states and the District of Columbia are building statewide longitudinal data systems, the next step is to ensure that the information in these systems is used to improve student learning. The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) has identified 10 actions that states can take to ensure that the right data are available and accessible and…

This study was designed to compare outcomes for two groups of alcohol and substance abuse clients (N=230): a control group assigned to regular 90 days of outpatient treatment, and an experimental group assigned to 180 days of extended outpatient care. Outcomes were compared in the following nine categories: (1) relapse, measured as reported…

This document presents funding and expenditure statistics for the Mississippi Library Commission for fiscal year 1995, as well as an overview of developments in the state's public libraries. These developments include budget increases; increased circulation and use of electronic reference sources; additional staffing; and developments in state…

A study designed to consider the feasibility of creating a State Office of Literacy in Hawaii found no consensus among those interviewed as to whether such an office should be established or what its duties should be. Consequently, the creation of a permanent Governor's Commission on Literacy was recommended instead. Housed within the Office of…

This report examines state-by-state child support data to determine the impact of child support legislation over the last decade. In the text portion, the report compares data provided by the states in fiscal years 1983 and 1992. It finds that while states have made some improvements over the decade, performance in many critical areas has remained…

This report presents the results of a management study of audio playback equipment operations conducted by the National Library Service, Library of Congress, its associated network of state and local machine lending agencies (MLA), and other parties that play a role in current operations. The objectives were to document current operations,…

This report provides an overview of vocational training programs and activities for Limited English Proficient (LEP) adults in Florida, with particular emphasis on Dade County and Bay County. State policy regarding LEP adults is discussed, as are the roles of state agencies in providing services to these individuals. Statistical information…

Interest in evaluating vocational and technical education has increased with changes in the federally legislated evaluation requirements and the national interest in economic development. Recommendations have stressed mastery of basic academic skills and preparation for multiple jobs during the working years. Indiana's three-level system for…

The services and functions of state and national organizations and agencies that could serve as heritage resources are summarized in this handbook. Both national and statewide public/government and private organizations are included. The handbook, originally developed for the use of Indiana's county historians, also lists Indiana county heritage…

This document consists of a handbook for consumers and a teacher's guide to the handbook. The first part of the handbook gives advice on how to be a smart consumer and includes information on how to get the most for the money, handle a complaint, write a complaint letter, use the handbook, select child care, protect personal property, choose a…