SAGE Journal Articles

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Doktor, J. E. & Poertner, J. (1996). Kentucky's Family Resource Centers A Community-Based, School-Linked Services Model. Remedial and Special Education, (17)5, 293-302.

Similar developments in education and social services offer an opportunity for these two systems to come together to better meet the needs of all children and families. both systems are seeking to be inclusive, to decategorize, and to address growing problems and decreasing resources with coordination and collaboration. these movements have joined forces in what is called the “school-linked service movement,” of which the family resource center idea is representative. this article explores this idea by identifying lessons learned in the development of family resource centers in Kentucky and discussing policy issues that are essential for both education and social services to address to assure continued development of this movement.

Spudich, D. & Spudich, C. (2011). Welcoming intergenerational communication and senior citizen volunteers in schools. Improving Schools, (13) 2,133-142.

This article focuses on intergenerational communication and provides a practical approach for how teachers and administrators can implement intergenerational programs in their schools. A discussion of the social and cultural implications of intergenerational communication is offered, and a review of literature regarding intergenerational programs is provided along with expertise offered from known leaders in the communication and intergenerational fields. The noted benefits as well as the disadvantages of senior citizens as volunteers are described, and the necessary steps prior to incorporating senior citizens into school settings are given. The necessary steps include recruitment, identifying volunteer duties, screening volunteers, recognizing their efforts, and evaluating their progress. Five intergenerational activities are offered for educators to enhance intergenerational communication in their schools. The activities include guest speakers, family nights, pen pal programs, books shares and interview sessions.

Smrekar, C. (1994). The Missing Link in School-Linked Social Service Programs. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, (16)4, 422-433.

States and local communities have responded to the urgent demand for better coordinated services by creating organizational linkages across schools and human service agencies. In the rush to promote schools as the linchpin for this policy proposal, however, critical issues related to the nature of interactions between families and schools have been mostly ignored by policy-makers and educators. This study of the Kentucky Family Resource Centers explores the effect of family-school interactions on school-linked service programs. The findings suggest the need to connect the dialogue on integrated services to the impulses of reform in school-family-community networks.