Notes that adoptive families have formal (agency-related) and informal (indigenous) resources to draw on for assistance with a variety of issues. Describes Hope for the Children (HFTC) program located in Rantoul, Illinois, a created community designed to foster permanence of special-needs adoptions, in which adoptive families live alongside agency…

Interviews were conducted with 591 Mexican Americans to determine adoption interest and create recruiting practices for prospective parents. Approximately one-third of sample reported an interest in adoption, but many perceived both structural and cultural obstacles to adoption. Based on findings, recommendations for increasing recruitment of…

A systematic evaluation of signs and messages at 42 recreation areas in California and Arizona focused on type of site, managing agency, density of message locales, sign attributes, and message content. The vast majority of messages presented behavioral commands and were negatively worded. This striking imbalance points to concerns in visitor…

Discusses efforts of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to develop national accreditation for teacher education that will help ensure competent educators. Considers certification, standards, and future possibilities. (Contains 7 references.)…

Discusses Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Carol Browner's views on facilitating practical approaches that address major environmental issues in the United States. Examines issues of helping local communities, climate impact and prevention, water quality and quantity, and the EPA's changing role in society. (WRM)

A survey of 46 agencies providing residential support to persons with disabilities examined their capacity to support persons with disabilities who present challenging behaviors. Two independent variables (organizational stability and administrative leadership) and four dependent variables (staff structures, staff training, measurement systems,…

Argues that the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business's new standards may have little impact on faculty selection and reward structures because representatives of the disciplines have not been consulted in their formulation. (SK)

Describes five major criteria, set by the North Central Association Commission on Schools (NCA), that must be present in order for a school to maintain accreditation. Reviews three endorsements provided by the NCA--school improvement, outcomes, and transitions--that attempt to help schools engage in a continuous improvement program. (JDI)

Interviewed private adoption agency staff in 1987-89 and 1993 to examine the impact of open adoption on practices and services. Found that over time, agencies offered a greater range of openness options. Client demand, changes in agency philosophy, and competition from independent or private adoptions were among the most salient reasons for…

Because homeless students' problems reflect complex social problems, a multifaceted, collaborative approach is needed to address fundamental issues. This article provides a framework for examining four levels of collaboration, highlighting lessons learned from pursuing educational goals at the state level. Collaboration with professionals from…

Founded in 1977, "Communities in Schools" champions the connection of needed community resources with schools to help 300,000 youngsters annually to learn, stay in school, and prepare for life. The program brings in community-service providers, such as health-care and mental-health professionals, to work as a personalized team alongside…

A strategic networking plan can mobilize the resources needed to accomplish the seemingly impossible. The key to successful networking is building of regular, long-term, sustainable relationships with the community, including governmental, charitable, and other organizations. Striving for educational excellence as a first priority has beneficial…

Interviews with 50 Latin Americans and Somalis living in Canada found a variety of motivations for volunteering with mainstream organizations, including promotion of their communities' needs. Barriers included lack of information, discrimination, and losses from migration. Suggestions for organizations seeking to recruit, support, and work with…

Uses the example of teacher education to explore how the procedural and consensus standards of accrediting agencies may not be providing enough evidence that student learning is occurring. Suggests other lines of evidence that should be used to understand an educator's competence. (SLD)

Describes how the State University of New York took advantage of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education's accreditation process that provided an organizational structure, demanded a research base, supported a national perspective, and offered assistance for program improvement.(JOW)