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Papers from the 1979 conference of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, whose theme was the promotion of higher education research and development, are presented. Specific topics were staff development in higher education, field experience, assessment and evaluation, teaching methods and curriculum design, and the tertiary student. Papers and authors are as follows: "The Changing Student" (Malcolm Skilbeck); "Research in Adult Education" (Barrie Brennan); "Staff Development for Experience-Based Learning" (Dave Boud and John Pascoe); "European Approaches to Staff Development" (Dietrich Brandt); "Preventing Industrial Conflict in Higher Education" (Tom M. Heffernan); "Intervention and Staff Development" (Ray McAleese); "Learning in General Practice--The Newcastle Experience" (Sandy Reid); "Group Medicine" (Andrew Hill); "Student Response to Continuous Assessment, Examination Format and Peer Marking" (John Coulson); "Evaluation of a Comprehensive Programme for Student Assessment" (Grahame I. Feletti and Graham Colditz); "The Adaptation of Flanders Interaction Analysis to Evaluation of University Teaching" (Heinz-Otto Gralki); "Evaluating an Educational Inservice Program" (Jacqueline Lublin); "The Management of Client Relationships in Instructional Design" (John Hedberg); "Scientific Enquiry in University Laboratory Classes" (Elizabeth H. Hegarty); "Visual Analogies in Higher Education" (Deane W. Hutton); "Curriculum Evaluation in Higher Education: Self Reflection in a Critical Community" (Stephen Kemmis and Clare Hughes);"Self Selecting Mature Age Students" (Allan Pitman); "Student Attitudes at a New and Old University" (J. S. Western and Ernest Roe); and summary of nonformal conference activities (Roger Landbeck). (SW)

Although it is estimated that half of all women will experience some form of domestic abuse during their lifetimes, participant recruitment in studies to learn about such abuse is difficult. The first step for the researcher is to develop a collaborative community partnership with domestic violence services. This will provide first-hand knowledge of battered women's experiences. This paper details one graduate student's personal experiences in undertaking such a research project about battered women and their needs. Several suggestions are provided on how to enlist the women in the project; how to reimburse them for their time; how to meet them at their level and not overburden them with detailed questionnaires; how to maintain their confidentiality; and how to provide them with the support they need. (JDM)

This paper presents an overview of how American libraries have responded to the health crisis caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). AIDS information dissemination practices of libraries and the social role which American librarians have articulated regarding their special responsibilities are discussed. Libraries and their use of community health information services, library extension programs, and information and referral services to promote access to HIV-AIDS information are considered. An overview is provided of federal government policies regarding HIV-AIDS information, especially the establishment of information programs designed to bring information to the general public, such as the national AIDS Hotline and other program operated by the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the National Library of Medicine. Examples of special HIV-AIDS libraries and information centers are discussed, including the AIDS Information Network of Philadelphia and the AIDS Committee of Toronto. Typical library models of services suited for the delivery of HIV-AIDS information which have evolved in American libraries are also considered. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/MES)

This paper contains preliminary findings from a 1989 survey of over 400 rural health programs serving chronically ill, handicapped, or high-risk children. Respondents identified major problems affecting service delivery. Follow-up research is continuing, but present data indicate that transportation problems, for both clients and staff, will probably have the highest ranking. Other frequently reported problems were: (1) issues related to recruitment, retention, and training of personnel; (2) limited program capabilities due to lack of stable funding, escalating medical costs, demands for documentation of services, and time demands; (3) inadequate referral sources in the community and insufficient locally-based resources; (4) family reluctance to utilize services, poor provider-family communications, cultural and language barriers, and social problems such as poverty and illiteracy; (5) lack of skilled physicians, physician unwillingness to accept children with special needs or low-income clients, and slow diagnostic and referral mechanisms; (6) lack of public awareness about how to identify and refer a child with special needs; (7) need for case management, interagency service coordination, and family and child follow-up; (8) need for articulated and coordinated state-regional-local systems; and (9) lack of access to tertiary (specialized) services. Program strategies developed to address these problems are listed. (SV)

The Visiting Clinician Program (VCP) was established in 1996 at a public medical school to provide individualized continuing education to participants and to foster closer ties between academic health center faculty and community practitioners who serve as preceptors for health professions students. Various methods have been used to evaluate the program, with focuses on program implementation and processes and program outcomes for participants. Specific sources of data were program management systems, end-of-day surveys of visiting clinicians, periodic interviews with visiting clinicians, follow-up surveys of clinicians who have completed the program, and surveys of faculty hosts. Findings indicated the following: (1) the program enrolled 103 clinicians; (2) visiting clinicians identified 139 specific learning needs, the most frequently identified areas being diabetes, cardiology, pain, adult obesity, sports medicine, dermatology, and computing in medical practice; (3) the program had financial and political costs and constraints; (4) administrative aspects of the program were satisfactory both for visiting clinicians and host faculty; (5) program participants engaged in 587 half- or full-day sessions in 116 different areas since the program began and earned 2,884 hours of continuing medical education credit; and (6) the program appeared to be a vehicle for building and strengthening collegial relationships between program participants and the faculty members who host them. (YLB)

This paper discusses some of the factors that lead to the success of a health information library, including: (1) the mission statement; (2) practical matters such as location, equipment, furniture, and layout; (3) considerations in writing the procedure and policy manual; (4) confidentiality; (5) staff and volunteer training; (6) sources of materials and networking; and (7) public relations. The importance of credibility and confidentiality is emphasized. (MES)

The locus of mental health care for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness continues to shift from inpatient units to outpatient and community services. Among community-based approaches, assertive community treatment (ACT) teams have demonstrated clinical and cost effectiveness in state and federal public systems. However, public sector psychologists are underrepresented on the ACT teams. This paper identifies some contributing factors and potential solutions for the current situation from the perspective of five Veterans Administration psychologists. Participants provide rationale for inclusion of psychologists on ACT teams, clarify their role with respect to clients and treatment teams, and review disincentives and benefits of psychologist participation in multi-disciplinary community services. Symposium topics include: (1) identification of reasons why psychologists are needed on ACT teams; (2) an outline of some contributions psychologists can make to the care of people with serious mental illness; (3) a description of psychologists' approaches to case management services for clients in the community; (4) highlights of the psychologist's clinical role with respect to the ACT team; and (5) discussion of some of the barriers and rewards for psychologist participation. (Contains 19 references.) (JDM)

This paper discusses the work of Yooroang Garang: the Centre for Indigenous Health Studies at the University of Sydney (Australia), focusing on professional education of Aboriginal health workers (AHWs). Aboriginal Education Centres in tertiary institutions are challenged to ensure that those institutions impart knowledge that is relevant and appropriate to Aboriginal people's cultural needs and aspirations. Most students at Yooroang Garang come from rural New South Wales, where the health status of Aboriginal people is much poorer than that of Whites. AHW training is critical to improving health conditions in rural Aboriginal communities, as AHWs deliver primary care services, provide health promotion and health education, and act as cultural brokers. However, AHWs encounter many problems: maintaining their own cultural identity; balancing Western and Aboriginal concepts of illness and health; and coping with isolation, confidentiality issues, gender issues, insufficient training, and lack of recognition by other health professionals. Yooroang Garang has developed culturally appropriate strategies to improve Aboriginal students' learning outcomes, including student attendance in 2-week study blocks; consideration of Aboriginal attitudes toward kin, community, and land; structured kits of learning materials to support indigenous adults undertaking off-campus study; supervised cooperative projects in Aboriginal communities; and teaching methods that build on learners' experience, enable students to assess their own learning needs, and are appropriate to the learning styles of Aboriginal adults. (SV)

Out Doors Inc. is a community-managed mental health organization in Victoria (Australia) that provides psychosocial rehabilitation to adults with mental health needs through outdoor adventure and other recreation experiences. This paper focuses on Out Door Inc.'s Going Places Program. The program, which ranges from 1 day to 4 months, is based on the belief that play, recreation, and outdoor adventure help to integrate mind, emotions, and body and are valuable parts of a holistic approach to personal development and mental health. Participants apply on their own and are not "referred." The 4-month program is a closed group of 12 men and women aged 18 and upwards, broadly fitting the category of being disabled by mental illness. Six levels of increasing challenge accommodate people's generally low levels of fitness and confidence. The focus is on abilities rather than disabilities, with a heavy reliance on the experiential learning model. Participants aim to be more self-sufficient, and the transfer of learning to their daily lives is an important program theme. Going Places makes it clear that it is not part of the medical system; it does not provide "treatment" or "therapy." This helps to ensure psychological safety, since many clients associate the word therapy with compulsory treatment, loss of personal dignity, and the therapist's exertion of power over them. Going Places shares common ground with those who do "adventure therapy" but its position acknowledges one of the main demands of people with mental health needs: that professionals work together to provide continuity of service and choices in a way that respects people as the experts in their own lives. (TD)

This paper focuses on the complexities of health care in Coober Pedy (South Australia) and the nearby Umoona Aboriginal community, and highlights the vital role of Aboriginal health workers in the implementation of primary health care principles. The Aboriginal population in this "outback" area is characterized by considerable economic problems, poor housing conditions, high unemployment and relatively few people in further education, low educational attainment, and an underlying reluctance to be counted in the census or to tell authorities of their current circumstances. Recent cause-of-death information shows a high incidence of heart and cerebrovascular disease, chronic liver disease often related to alcohol abuse, and injuries from violence including homicide and suicide. Hospital admissions are considerably higher for Aboriginal compared to non-Aboriginal persons, particularly for mental disorders, skin-related problems, and infectious and parasitic diseases. The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, Inc., an Aboriginal-controlled organization responsible for health policy, research, and community health coordination, has for many years stationed four Aboriginal health workers in Coober Pedy. The health workers provide health screenings, immunizations, and advice on health problems; hold family discussion sessions on such topics as financial problems, domestic violence, and alcohol-related problems; make referrals to the hospital; conduct health promotion and prevention programs; and serve as liaisons with community agencies and the schools. A recent child health workshop highlighted the lack of education and empowerment in the Aboriginal community. Increased collaboration between government agencies and Aboriginal health organizations is called for. (SV)

This paper describes a funded project, Families and Neighborhood Schools (FANS), which provided coordinated services for selected at-risk middle school students. The FANS project, based at Bryson Middle School in Greenville County School District, South Carolina, collaborated with the county mental health center to offer school-based mental health services to students and their families. The project's staffing, budget, initiation, and collaboration, and role of school leaders are described. FANS also provided alternative functions: a collaborative, in-school, intervention plan for nonviolent criminal offenders; systemic interventions for at-risk students; and counseling for special education students. The project has reduced the social stigma of mental health issues. An 18-month evaluation of 59 sixth-graders indicated an increase in social bonding and improved academic performance. Although structural approaches vary by site, four components are constant in this type of school-based service delivery model. Such a program must: (1) address all student needs that hinder success in school; (2) include traditional clinical and nontraditional group approaches; (3) promote collegiality among the mental health and school staffs; and (4) constitute a true collaborative effort. A list of contact persons is included. Two tables and two figures are included. (LMI)

Findings of a study that examined the ways in which school principals, directors of nursing education programs, and supervisors of community health centers manage conflict are presented in this paper. The study attempted to determine the applicability of research on conflict management in noneducational settings to school organizations. Interviews were conducted with 15 Canadian school principals, 18 New Zealand school principals, 8 community health supervisors in western Canada, and 6 directors of schools of nursing in a western Canadian province. Findings indicate that both groups of principals and the community health center supervisors most often handled conflict by managing the common information base, and that nursing education directors attempted to manage the organizational climate. A conclusion is that conflict resolution information developed from the study of certain organizational settings is not necessarily applicable to others. Five tables are included. (29 references) (LMI)

Due to the efforts of mental health consumer and advocacy organizations, there now exists a legislated community-based mental health policy for the treatment of children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders and their families. But the implementation of this policy has not met the intended legislative standards. Accordingly, this document reviews the causes of dissatisfaction with the de facto implementation of this policy, focusing on misallocation of mental health treatment funds; the need for a more thorough, ecologically oriented evaluation; intensity of services; and the efficacy of traditional forms of intervention. Promising new proposals and initiatives in research and evaluation of community-based services from the Family and Children's Services Branch of the Division of Biometry and Applied Sciences at the National Institute of Mental Health are cited. References are included. (TE)

This presentation will report on the findings of the evaluation of Project SOBEIT a multi-school initiative focused on building partnerships between schools, law enforcement, and community mental health agencies. Guided by a process, context, outcomes, and sustainability framework and grounded in the understanding of the impact of change theory on program adoption, this evaluation used multiple sources of data to explore the program's success in changing the way schools do business.

This report describes outcomes of a survey that investigated the external environment of juvenile courts and whether this environment relates to the treatment of young offenders or custody decisions. In 1997, a statewide survey was administered to all courts with juvenile jurisdiction in a Mid-Southern state. This research was based on 71 courts from whom a completed survey was obtained from the judge. Together, these courts handled over 33,000 youth during 1997 who were referred to them for either a status or delinquency offense. Three measures of service-related decisions were assessed, based on courts offender population only: (1) courts rate of referral to mental health services; (2) courts rate of referral to substance abuse services; and (3) courts custody rate. Results found on average that courts referred about 3 percent of offenders to mental health services and about 4 percent to substance abuse services. Their rate of custody was about 8 percent. Regarding interagency relations, courts had nearly weekly, but less than daily contact overall with other child-serving agencies in their communities. Mental health referral rates were higher for courts located in urban areas having more service resources and for courts that maintained more frequent contact with other child-serving agencies. (CR)

This report discusses the preliminary results of a study that investigated arrest rates for adolescents who received community mental health services under Medicaid managed care programs in Hillsborough, Florida, and four surrounding countries. Results indicate many young recipients of mental health services were arrested in Hillsborough and nearby counties during 1995-1998. Almost one-third of all 14-16 year-old boys, and almost one-fifth of all 17-19 year-old boys in Hillsborough County were arrested each year, on average. In surrounding counties, the arrest rates varied from more than one-fifth for 14-16 year-old boys to more than one-fourth for 17-19 year-old boys. Arrest rates for girls were lower, but still quite high. In Hillsborough County, 19% of 14-16 year-old girls and 11% of 17-19 year-old girls were arrested each year on average. In the surrounding counties, almost one in ten girls in both age groups were arrested each year on average. When arrest rates for the year before treatment were compared to arrest rates for the year after treatment for boys, the results were not encouraging. For both groups in both regions, arrest rates during the year after treatment were significantly higher than arrest rates prior to treatment. (Contains 14 references.) (CR)

The AccessMichigan Electronic Community Health Information Initiative (AMECHII) is a response to a recommendation of the Michigan Information Technology Commission Report recommending improved access to high-quality health care information for all Michigan stakeholders. This project is multi-type, including public, general academic, academic health science, hospital, and special libraries. Objectives include extending the current network infrastructure to serve all libraries and to negotiate statewide licenses for core and extended electronic collections, including reference materials and serials, recognizing the economic realities in American hospitals and libraries and the need for economic viability of publishers. This pilot project, if successful, will be used as a model for other statewide information projects. The planning process, which will begin with a comprehensive needs assessment, gap analysis, and economic model, will result in the design of a statewide health information architecture/system design and will include economic sustainability and new paradigms for library collaboration and federation in the acquisition and distribution of electronic resources over a wide area. AMECHII will also seek international partnerships with developing countries to cooperatively develop an electronic health information infrastructure in those nations and to seek external funding to do so. (Author/MES)

Efforts of health professionals are shifting away from programs that "deliver health" toward those that build the capacity of communities to work together to create healthy places. The Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) is a community development model in central Alberta (Canada) that involves the creation of a widely shared vision of a healthier community; assessment of community needs and capacities; selection of priority areas for action; creation and implementation of action plans; and evaluation and monitoring of actions through the development of community-level indicators. Case studies of HCI implementation in four rural communities show that four health-related issues emerged consistently: need for youth development, preservation of the natural environment, maintaining a strong sense of community in the face of changing social dynamics, and access to health services. Capacity-building issues included lack of shard vision, need for further leadership development among both adults and youth, communication difficulties, lack of knowledge about how to access resources, and lack of well-defined processes by which the communities could learn from experience. Lessons learned about integrating community capacity building and a healthy communities initiative are discussed. (TD)

The South Carolina Rural Interdisciplinary Program in Training (SCRIPT) provides practical educational experiences for students from multiple health care majors in rural communities in the Low Country (Southern region) of South Carolina. Faculty from the Medical University of South Carolina joined with staff from the Low Country Area Health Education Center to plan and present coursework in a 5-week intensive summer session. South Carolina has the nation's second highest rate of diabetes, and high rates of complications are very prevalent in the Low Country. SCRIPT students were linked with The Diabetes Connection, a Hampton County project to determine the effects of a community diabetes screening and education project on screening participants. Teams of SCRIPT students developed and conducted a telephone survey of screening participants. Of 39 respondents, almost all had continued medical care and had modified their diet, about half had made some changes in their physical activity, but most had neglected foot care and eye followup. The most important motivator for changing behaviors was support from family and friends, while barriers to controlling diabetes included lack of support, lack of funds, and feelings of isolation. As a result of the SCRIPT survey, The Diabetes Connection developed a diabetic support and education group, cooking classes, a walking program, and yearly screening events. (SV)

This proceedings of a conference held in May 2000 at Malaspina University-College (British Columbia) contains approximately 63 conference papers, abstracts of papers, and keynote speeches. The conference examined issues affecting rural communities, with major themes being rural education, health, human services, families, and the sustainability of rural communities. The conference aimed to foster an international network of rural scholars, which had its beginnings at a 1994 conference of the same name, held at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia. Topics of speeches and papers include history of U.S. rural women teachers, rural school reform, public policies affecting rural communities, adjustment of professionals relocating to rural areas, community health services and initiatives, rural community information services, rural studies programs, Aboriginal education in Canada and Australia, information technology use on farms and in rural schools and communities, rural health issues, community viability, rural economy, community development issues and programs, connections between rural schools and communities, and distance education. Profiles of keynote speakers and contact information for conference participants are included. (SV)