This introductory article analyzes the challenges facing researchers as they respond to the ideas that guide family-centered services and incorporate these themes into research focused on improving services for children with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. The fit between traditional mental health research and family centered services…

Describes a special Head Start initiative called Free to Grow: Head Start Partnerships to Promote Substance-Free Communities. Notes five such Head Start programs in Puerto Rico, Kentucky, California, Colorado, and New York that have designed substance abuse prevention models to strengthen families and neighborhoods by providing a healthy…

Describes the purposes and missions of the Partnership for Access to Higher Mathematics (PATH) Project. Focuses on the degree to which the projects' goals were achieved in an eighth- grade mathematics program. Provides demographic data and the results of statistical analyses used to determine the effectiveness of the project, and concludes with…

Evaluated a conceptual model that links temperament, emotional knowledge, and family expressiveness to preschoolers' emotional regulation ability by giving "disappointing" prizes after a task. Subjects were 82 preschoolers. Found that children's positive displays when presented the disappointing prize were inversely related to the…

Identifies individualistic and collectivist systems of family eldercare and explores their dimensions. Findings suggest that while individualist families minimize their caregiving and rely on formal supports, collectivists use caregiving to construct family ties, sometimes prompting overcare. Discusses factors that contribute to these caregiving…

Presents tips for organizing an effective parent involvement program: (1) develop a philosophy statement; (2) value family values, traditions, and beliefs; (3) reach out to parents; (4) train for effective communication; (5) encourage parent involvement in program activities; (6) provide involvement opportunities; (7) seek parental input; (8)…

Notes that parental involvement in schools often decreases at the middle school level because children do not want their parents at school and parents do not feel welcome. Provides guidelines to increase parental involvement by setting realistic goals, training parents in involvement duties, recruiting, staying flexible, understanding community…

Describes an event called Star Week that involved families joining in their children's projects, attending an educational presentation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and participating in a schoolwide star party. Contains resources for both students and teachers. (JRH)

Notes Augusta State University's "Family Fun Fair," developed in 1981 by early childhood teacher candidates, and now a major requirement of one of Augusta's early childhood courses. Describes several fun fair activities and how activities devised by the students are evaluated by the instructor. (HTH)

This study examined the relation between teachers' report of family involvement in school and children's social and academic competencies during kindergarten, measuring families' attitudes toward schools and families' activities with schools. Findings suggest that teachers' reports of family attitudes are a more consistent predictor of outcomes…

This study examined classroom life of children with behavioral/emotional disorders in self-contained classrooms. Site visits were made to 26 programs, and 200 parents responded to questionnaires. Despite visible mainstreaming efforts, results indicated gaps in quality of classroom life, amount of attention on students' mental health needs, and…

Describes study that was conducted to determine the feasibility of networking home microcomputers with a university mainframe system in order to investigate a new family process research paradigm, as well as the design and function of the microcomputer/mainframe system. Test instrumentation is described and systems' reliability and validity are…

The role of psychologists in helping families of the one in five Americans suffering from mental illness is described. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has been active in bridge building between psychologists and families through enhanced communication and improvements in support systems. An agenda of 15 recommendations for further…

Describes growing popularity and shortcomings of commercially published guidebooks which rate and/or evaluate colleges and universities. Suggests questions counselors should pose when evaluating guidebooks. States National Association of College Admission Counselors' policy to not encourage or participate in any evaluation system undertaken for…

The article argues that students with severe intellectual disabilities should be educated in their local "home school" so all children can prepare for a pluralistic society, so families can have easy access to schools and services, and so social relationships with nondisabled persons can be developed and maintained over long periods of time.…