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Social Work Library: Resources for Social Work Professionals

Resources for Social Work Professionals

This guide provides sources for ongoing professional development for social workers not currently affiliated with the University of Michigan. It includes information on services provided by the Social Work Library as well as links to major online resources of general interest to social work and health care practitioners. The online resources listed here are available without cost, although some of their services have fees.

Please Note: The current version of this web page, in tutorial form, is available at http://www.lib.umich.edu/socwork/rescue/msw.html

" Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find the information." Samuel Johnson

University Library Services | Job Announcements | Journals Online | Alerting Services | Books Online |
Practice Guidelines, EBM Practice | Clinical Trials | Patient/Consumer Health Information
Web Gateways | Government Documents | Public Policy | Program Evaluation

Training and employment: Domestic | International

Advocacy Organizations:
Aging | Children & Adolescents | Community Development | Criminal Justice | Employment/Labor
Health Care | International Health and Social Development
Mental and Developmental Disabilities | Migrant Workers and Immigrants | Non-Profits
Peace and Social Justice | Privilege | Welfare/Poverty | Women

Membership Organizations that Deliver Services | International Social Work
Theories linked to Movements | History of Social Welfare | Values & Ethics | Cultural Competencies
Resource Guides for Various Services that Could be Helpful to Your Clients

 

 University Library Services
  • On-Site Services at the Social Work Library
    B700, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1106
    • Social Work Library is open to the public during regular hours. As a visitor, all of the library's collections (periodicals, books, and special collections) are available for your use while you are in the library. You may want to look over the Online Reference Collection.
    • You may also use the computers that are marked Library Research Only. These computers will allow you access to the University of Michigan library's catalog, electronic resources, and the Internet. The Mirlyn Library Catalog includes records for the books and journals owned by the U-M Libraries, including the Social Work Library, and is accessible by anyone via the World Wide Web.
    • You will not be able to print from these computers but guest printing is available in the Graduate and Undergraduate Libraries. There will be a charge of $.05 a page for each page printed (a copy card is required). Photocopy cards are available for purchase. You may also use the library's photocopiers. It is $.10 per page with a copy card.
    • You also have access to assistance from library staff. If you have any research questions, please feel free to ask at the library's service desk.
    • For detailed information on our location, hours and services go to the "About the Library" page at: http://www.lib.umich.edu/socwork/swlguide.html

  • Borrowing Cards for Alumni and Guests     http://www.lib.umich.edu/circ/guestborrowing.html
    • Individuals may purchase library cards which allow them to check out books at the University Libraries, including the Social Work Library.
    • Michigan Research Libraries Triangle (MRLT)
      http://www.lib.umich.edu/circ/mrlt.html

      Graduate students from the three MRLT institutions (UM, Wayne State and Michigan State) can receive guest borrowing privileges at any of the three universities

    • Alumni Access to Online Databases

    • In January 2008, the University Library will begin a collaboration with the U-M Alumni Association that will provide selected library privileges to dues-paying Alumni Association members at the upper two levels in their new three-tier membership structure.

      Members at the middle "Blue" level, who pay $59 per year, will receive access to a limited set of databases licensed by the University Library, including seven ProQuest databases.

      Members at the highest "True Blue" level, who pay $129 per year, will receive the same database access as "Blue" level members, and in addition will have the option of receiving an Alumni borrowing card at no additional cost.

      The seven ProQuest databases that will be offered to "Blue" and "True Blue" alumni are:

      ABI/INFORM Dateline
      ABI/INFORM Global
      ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry
      Alt-Press Watch
      Ethnic Newswatch
      GenderWatch
      ProQuest Research Library

    • Initially, the library-licensed databases that will be offered to "Blue" and "True Blue" members will also include the Project MUSE collection of e-journals and the CareerSearch database.

      There are many additional benefits beyond library privileges associated with both the "Blue" and "True Blue" membership levels. There is also a lower "Maize" level, for $24 per year that does not include special library privileges. A provisional list of benefits associated with the three levels is available on the Alumni Association's website at: http://alumni.umich.edu/membership/join.php?type=tiered

       

  • Article Delivery Service
    • Loansome Doc
      http://www.lib.umich.edu/taubman/ldregister.html
      Individuals may establish an account with the Taubman Medical Library to order articles found in MEDLINE/PubMed for a fee. (Those currently affiliated with a medical library should contact that library first.) For more information, contact Riin Gill, riin@umich.edu (734) 763-6407
    • National Criminal Justice Reference Service - Registration Services
      https://puborder.ncjrs.org/secure/register/register.asp
      JUSTINFO: a bi-weekly electronic newsletter with links to full text.
    • MITS
      http://www.lib.umich.edu/mits/
      MITS is a fee-based document delivery service that is part of the University of Michigan Library system. An order form is available online and MITS accepts payment by credit card.
 Job Announcements
 Journals Online
  • FreeMedicalJournals.com
    http://FreeMedicalJournals.com/
    Journal Tables of Contents with some full text.
  • Google Scholar
    http://scholar.google.com/
    Returns some free journals, book extracts and similar high quality information, but many of the articles returned in the seach results link to journal services where the user must be a subscriber or pay a large fee to view each article.
  • Harm Reduction Journal
    http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/home/
  • National Criminal Justice Reference Service - Registration Services
    https://puborder.ncjrs.org/secure/register/register.asp
    JUSTINFO: a bi-weekly electronic newsletter with links to full text.
  • PubMed
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
    A searchable database including citations and abstracts from journals in MEDLINE as well as additional life science journals. Some records include links to full-text. Complete articles may be ordered through the Loansome Doc service (described above)
  • PubMedCentral
    http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/
    A digital archive of life sciences journal literature managed by the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Library of Medicine. Includes journals from the online publisher Biomed Central.
  • MeL Databases
    http://mel.org/screens/databasesubjects.html
    The Library of Michigan has purchased over thirty commercial databases, including InfoTrac, a general-interest full-text
    database. If your are searching from home or office, you need a Michigan driver's license to log in. All MeL databases are
    available free-of-charge to Michigan residents through all types of Michigan libraries.
  • SearchTools
    http://www.lib.umich.edu/newnow/searchtools/
    SearchTools is a customizable portal to University of Michigan library databases, indexes, networked electronic resources, e-journals, web resources, and catalogs. A few databases are available to any Internet user. If you select the database list, you can limit your search to the free databases. 
 Alerting Services
 Books Online
  • Freebooks4Doctors
    http://Freebooks4Doctors.com/
    Links to over 500 full-text medical books online.
  • Google Book Search
    http://books.google.com/
    Google respects copyright law so unless a given book's publisher has given us permission to show sample pages, you'll only see the Snippet View which, like a card catalog, shows information about the book plus a few snippets – a few sentences of your search term in context. If the book isn't under copyright at all, you can browse the entire book in the Full Book View, but the aim of Google Book Search is to help you discover books and learn where to buy or borrow them, not read them from start to finish.
 Practice Guidelines, EBM Practice
 Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov
    http://clinicaltrials.gov/
    Information on approximately 6000 clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions sponsored by the NIH, other Federal agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry. Primarily U.S. and Canadian studies, but includes studies from about 70 countries. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details.

 Patient/Consumer Health Information

  • Clinical Capsules, Terminology of Behavioral Health Care
    http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/
    Hypertext document provides the reader with rapid basic understanding of term and its relationship to other terms as well as access to more detailed information and resources.

  • Drug Information on MEDLINEplus
    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
    Sources: MedMaster™, a product of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the USP DI® Advice for the Patient®

  • Genetics Home Reference
    http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
    Consumer information about genetic conditions and the genes responsible for those conditions.

  • HealthFinder
    http://www.healthfinder.gov/
    The HealthFinder is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gateway to online health information. It provides access to publications, clearinghouses, databases, Web sites, and support and self-help groups. In addition, it lists government agencies and nonprofit organizations that produce relevant information. Recent enhancements to the Web site include Smart Choices, which offers guidance to consumers who are seeking quality health information and care; a section on how to locate good doctors and hospitals; and another on how to report fraud and complaints.

  • HealthWeb
    http://healthweb.org/
    Compiled by major research libraries. Links are screened based on quality criteria. Organized by broad subject categories (e.g., Cardiology).

  • MEDLINEplus
    http://medlineplus.gov/
    Information from the NIH and other trusted sources on over 500 health topics in English and Spanish. Also includes hospital and physician directories, a medical encyclopedia and dictionaries, prescription and nonprescription drug information, health news, and links to clinical trials. Produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

  • Medscape
    http://www.medscape.com/px/urlinfo
    Free, but registration is required. Medical news, conference coverage, online CME, selected online journals, practice guidelines, and drug information from American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information and First DataBank's National Drug Data File.

  • Nursing HealthWeb
    http://www.healthweb.org/browse.cfm?subjectid=60

  • Pharmacy HealthWeb
    http://www.healthweb.org/browse.cfm?subjectid=72

  • Tom Powell's Resources for Mental Health
    http://www.lib.umich.edu/socwork/rescue/sw636.html

 Web Gateways

  • HealthWeb
    http://healthweb.org/
    Compiled by major research libraries. Links are screened based on quality criteria. Organized by broad subject categories (e.g., Cardiology).

  • Nursing HealthWeb
    http://www.healthweb.org/browse.cfm?subjectid=60

  • Pharmacy HealthWeb
    http://www.healthweb.org/browse.cfm?subjectid=72

  • Medscape
    http://www.medscape.com/px/urlinfo
    Free, but registration is required. Medical news, conference coverage, online CME, selected online journals, practice guidelines, and drug information from American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information and First DataBank's National Drug Data File®.

  • Social Issues & Social Services from the Michigan Electronic Library
    http://web.mel.org/viewtopic.jsp?id=55
    MEL is a cooperative venture of librarians across the state of Michigan who are collecting Internet resources-with a particular focus on local, state, and federal government resources. This section presents a useful and coherent guide to 45 subjects of interest to social work researchers.

 Government Documents
  • American FactFinder (Census Bureau's delivery system for 1990 & 2000 Census data & maps) http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en. For a comprehensive tutorial on using American FactFinder click here.
  • Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
    http://www.acf.hhs.gov/index.html
    ACF is a federal agency funding state, local, and tribal organizations to provide family assistance (welfare), child support, child care, Head Start, child welfare, and other programs relating to children and families.
    [Child Care Bureau][Children's Bureau][Family & Youth Services Bureau][Head Start Bureau][ACF Research & Publications]
  • Afterschool.gov
    http://www.afterschool.gov/
    Connects people to Federal resources for information on strategies to support children and youth during out-of-school hours. The site includes a range of information related to youth development and afterschool programming, including a searchable database of Federal Government funding sources; ideas on how to learn about the work of, and network with, others in the field; links to organizations and publications that focus on youth issues; and links to Web sites designed for young people.
  • Healthy People
    http://www.healthpeople.gov/
    Healthy People is a collaborative initiative of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and almost 600 national organizations and Federal and State government agencies. Among the contents of this home page are basic facts about 22 priority areas of Healthy People 2000, recent data from progress reviews, links to U.S. Public Health Service agencies that have responsibility for priority areas, and a publication list.
  • The Civil Rights Act of 2004
    http://www.civilrights.org/campaigns/civil_rights_act/act_now.html
    For forty years the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has attempted to level the playing field in job opportunities, education, housing, voting and other areas. On February 11, 2004 civil rights leaders and Democrats introduced a multi-year initiative before Congress in an attempt to pass a sweeping update of the nation's laws barring discrimination.
  • Latest School Data and more
    http://nces.ed.gov/
    Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2000-01 Almost one in every four public school students in this nation is served by one of these large districts. They are distinguished from the average district by characteristics, in addition to sheer size, such as pupil-teacher ratios, high school graduates, and minority enrollment as a proportion of total enrollment.

    Explore the following implications of one new law to understand the interplay between a bill, regulations and program evaluation. Will this law lead to evidence-based practice in education?
    • No Child Left Behind (NCLB) H.R. 1 To close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind. [Passed into law]. This is the major education law of the Bush Administration which requires testing as well as access to school data. Became Public Law (P.L. 107-110) , 01/08/02. Presented to the President., 01/23/02. For full text go to GPO Access Congressional Bills and search "no child AND left behind" to view text, summary and pdf versions. Will also be accessible from GPO Access Public and Private Laws as Public Law P.L. 107-110.
      • "NCLB is the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and is the centerpiece of the Bush plan on education. While
        the testing aspects of NCLB have gotten the most attention, it does have a number of other significant components, from relatively minor issues (e.g., schools have to be willing to provide college and military recruiters with names and addresses of students) to more important things like teacher quality. One section does require all schools to have a report card that includes certain kinds of information. Nearly all states have failed to include the required information so far (see School Report Cards). The things that need to be in this report card are the following: (1) Achievement Data, with at least a two-year trend shown (2) Percentage of Students Not Tested (3) Graduation Rates for HS & One Other Measure for Elem School, such as attendance rates.
        These have to be reported disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, disability status, socio-economic level, migrant worker status, and English Language Learner status. An indication of whether or not the school is making Adequate Yearly Progress, Teacher Credentials, including % of classes not taught by qualified teachers or with emergency credentials. Unfortunately, these will not necessarily be comparable across states. Each state gets to come up with its own assessments, which will vary somewhat in quality and rigor. All states will now have to participate in NAEP (which is a federal assessment using a sample of schools), which will be the best assessment measure to use in looking across the states. States have used widely varying measures of graduation rates and probably will continue to do so for some time. New Jersey, for example, currently only looks at high school seniors in calculating its graduation rate, so anyone who drops out prior to their senior year doesn't get included. This is supposed to change." Marc Beebe, New Jersey Statewide Systemic Initiative.
    • Related Web sites:
      • The Heritage Foundation: Research: Education: B+ for HR 1's Education Reforms
      • National Center for Educational Accountability Includes information about how states ought to collect longitudinal student data to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act.
      • National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS): Leave no child behind and no family behind This website assists schools, districts, and state departments of education in meeting and exceeding requirements of the No Child Left Behind law. NNPS provides manuals, resources, evaluation opportunities, and on-going professional development for strengthening and maintaining programs of school, family,and community partnerships. Summaries are given of four new requirements for reporting to parents and the public on their own child's test scores, changing from failing to better schools, providing supplementary services, and reporting to the public on school status, progress, and trends.
      • NoChildLeft.Com is a publication of FNO Press in Bellingham, Washington. The company specializes in producing books, Web sites and other publications that speak to the challenge of making healthy, sustained improvement in the way students learn and teachers orchestrate that learning. While FNO Press originally focused upon the introduction of new technologies and information literacies to classrooms, that focus has broadened to consider the full sweep of change initiatives currently facing schools.
      • To Truly Leave No Child Behind Children's Defense Fund Report analyzes the war on children. Compares compassionate words with uncompassionate deeds. State by state tables of child poverty.
 Public Policy

Program Evaluation

  • American Evaluation Association
    http://www.eval.org
    The American Evaluation Association (AEA) is an international professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, and other types of evaluation. The AEA wrks to improve evaluation practices and methods, increase the use of evaluation, and promote evaluation as a profession.

Training and employment: Domestic

  • Congressional Hunger Fellows
    http://www.hungercenter.org/
    Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program
    Each year about twenty participants are selected for this twelve-month program. Fellows are placed for six months with urban and rural
    community-based organizations all over the country involved in fighting hunger at the local level, such as food banks, community kitchens, and
    local advocacy agencies. They then move to Washington, DC to complete the year with six months of work at national organizations involved in the
    anti-hunger and poverty movement, including national advocacy organizations, think tanks, and federal agencies. Through this unique
    program, the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program develops hunger-fighting leaders with a deep understanding of hunger and poverty at
    both the local and national level that enables them to find innovative solutions and create the political will to end hunger.

Training and employment: International Employment and Career Planning

 Advocacy Organizations*
Aging
  • AARP
    http://www.aarp.org
    AARP, with a membership in excess of thirty million people age fifty and older, is a major leader in addressing the interests and issues of older people. The organization offers many services and a wealth of information on diverse aspects of aging.
  • AgeLine Database
    http://www.aarp.org/research/ageline/
    Free Access to abstracts of social gerontology and aging-related articles, books, and reports.
  • Aging Policy (Social Work Library)
    The elderly became a powerful interest group in the twentieth century. Lists major legislation since 1920 with links to Thomas (beginning in 1973) for full text and "Bill Summary and Status" of legislation.
  • Alliance for Aging Research
    http://www.agingresearch.org
    The Alliance for Aging Research is America's leading citizen advocacy organization for promoting research in human aging and working to ensure health longevity for all Americans.
  • American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP)
    http://www.aagpgpa.org/
    A national professional society dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of older people. Informationaal materials are available to both professionals and the public.
  • American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
    http://www.americangeriatrics.org
    A national professional society dedicated to improving the general health and well-being of older people. Informationa
    l materials are available to both professionals and the public.
  • American Society on Aging (ASA)
    http://www.asaging.org
    The ASA is a national nonprofit membership organization that informs the public and health professionals about issues affecting the quality of life for older people and promotes innovative approaches to meet these needs.
  • Arts and Creative Aging
    http://www.communityarts.net/archivefiles/elders/index.php
    When elders share their stories, they pass on to others their accumulated wisdom. Unfortunately, America has provided few opportunities for its elders to share their lives' stories with their communities. Too often older Americans have been dismissed, denied meaningful social roles, sequestered by a culture that views old age only in terms of decline. Fortunately, America is changing. A sudden and intense shift in ideology is underway in the U.S., and with this shift a new field has emerged that may well transform what it means to grow old. That field is creative aging.
  • Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE)
    http://www.aghe.org/
    AGHE was established in 1974 to advance gerontology as a field of study in institutions of higher learning. The objectives are to foster research, instructional, and service programs to enhance the capacities of institutions of higher education in the field of aging and to help make their resources available to benefit the wider community and society. AGHE is the only national membership organization devoted primarily to gerontological and geriatrics education. Its membership consists of over 300 colleges, universities, and other organizations interested in gerontological education and research and providing aging-related instructional and research programs. On January 1, 1999 it became an educational unit of The Gerontological Society of America .
  • Center on Aging, Health & Humanities
    http://www.gwumc.edu/cahh/index.htm
    Programs at George Washington University that include a special focus on studying and promoting creativity and aging.
  • Directory of Web Sites on Aging
    http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/How_To_Find.aspx
    Provides a wide diversity of useful Web sites addressing issues of aging, including academic research sites, organizaion sites, sites by state, international sites, and sites by subject and topic.
  • Elderhostel
    http://www.elderhostel.org
    "A non profit organization providing educational adventures all over the world to adults age fifty-five and over...Elderhouse is for people on the move who believe learning is a lifelong process."
  • Elders & Families
    http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/eldfam.aspx
    Elders and Families is designed to assist older persons and their caregivers to quickly obtain information and resources on a variety of aging-related topics
  • Geriatrics at Your Fingertips Online Edition (FREE from Blackwell Publishers)
    http://www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org/default.asp
    Definitions, Estimated Frequencies of Causes, Diagnoses, Differential Diagnoses, Prognoses, Symptoms, Risks and Protective Factors, Evaluations, Treatments, Managements, Caregiver Issues, and other variables as appropriate for Dementia, Anxiety, Depression, Psychotic Disorders, and many other medical conditions in the elderly. Assessment Instruments Appended:

    • Mini-Cog Assessment Instrument for Dementia
    Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (ADLS)
    Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADLS)
    Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS, Short-Form)
    Brief Hearing Loss Screener
    Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)
    Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)
    Pain Scales for Assessing Pain Intensity
    10-Minute Screener for Geriatric Conditions

  • GENCO
    http://www.GENCO-GAMES.com/
    GENCO is a game company that specializes in board games that are at the same time educational, intergenerational, and artistic. In addition, the games contain built-in mental exercises for aging; vocabulary, for example, is a mental skill that research shows can improve with practice at least into one's 80s.
  • Generations United (GU)
    http://www.gu.org/
    GU is the only national organization that focuses solely on promoting intergenerational strategies, programs, and policies. GU includes more than 100 national, state, and local organizations representing more than 70 million Americans and is the only national organization advocating for the mutual well-being of children, youth, and older adults. GU serves as a resource for educating policymakers and the public about the economic, social, and personal imperatives of intergenerational cooperation. GU provides a forum for those working with children, youth, and the elderly to explore areas of common ground while celebrating the richness of each generation.
  • Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
    http://www.geron.org/
    The Gerontological Society of America is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5000 members in the field of aging. GSA provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as one ages.
  • International Federation on Aging (IFA)
    http://www.ifa-fiv.org
    The IFA helps link more than one hundred associations as well as interested individuals representing or serving older people in approximately fifty nations worldwide.
  • International Longevity Center (ILC)
    http://www.ilcusa.org
    The ILC is dedicated to the study of longevity internationally, improving the availability of data as well as the identification of programs and approaches to improving the quality of one's added years.
  • International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA)
    http://www.ipa-online.org
    An international professional society dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of older people. Informational materials are available to both professionals and the public.
  • National Aging Information Center
    http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/naic
    Includes a range of information, from publications on aging to a calender of coming events on aging, to statistical reports on
    aging.
  • National Council on the Aging (NCOA)
    http://www.ncoa.org
    NCOA is an association of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting the self-determination, well-being, and continuing contributions of older people through service, education, and advocacy. Its members include professionals and volunteers, service providers, consumer groups, businesses, government agencies, religious groups and voluntary organizations. Funding available to senior citizens, such as its Wisdom Works: Building Better Communities initiative.
  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)
    http://www.nia.nih.gov/
    NIA is the federal research program most involved in supporting studies of aging. In addition to providing information on research findings, much practical information is offered through the Institute's diverse publications--especially their Ages Pages.
  • Old-Time Radio
    http://www.old-time.com
    About itself, Old-Time Radio says, "If you are interested in radio programs from radio's 'golden age', this is the site for you. It is filled with many entertaining and educational topics for fans of nostalgic old-time radio shows.
  • Older Jokes for Older Folks
    http://www.seniors-site.com/funstuff
    This site provides jokes, just as it promises.
  • Senior Corps
    http://www.seniorcorps.org/
    Through the National Senior Service Corp, nearly half a million Americans age fifty-five and older share their time and talents to help their communities. Its component programs include the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program) and Senior Companion Program.
  • SeniorNet
    http://www.seniornet.org
    About itself, SeniorNet says, "SeniorNet's mission it to provide older adults educationa for and access to computer technology to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom. The nonprofit SeniorNet teaches seniors (age fifty plus) to use computers and the Internet at over 140 Learning Centers nationwide."
  • Seniors4Hire
    http://seniors4hire.org/
    "Seniors4Hire.org is a nationwide online Career Center for U.S. job seekers 50 and over to find job openings from businesses that value a diverse workforce and actively recruit and hire older workers, retirees and/or senior citizens.
  • Senior Job Bank
    http://seniorjobbank.org/
  • Small Business Administration (SBA)
    http://www.sba.gov
    The U.S. Small Business Administration provides financial, technical, and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. With a portfolio of more than $45 billion, SBA is the nation's largest single backer of small businesses. In 1988, SBA offered management and technical assistance to more than one million small-business owners.
  • SPRY Foundation
    http://www.spry.org/
    The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare established the SPRY Foundation in 1991 as an independent 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. The SPRY Foundation's mission is to conduct and coordinate research and education efforts that seek ways to assist mature adults both in planning and achieving a healthy, financially secure and satisfying future. SPRY also disseminates information and raises public awareness about such efforts to achieve its vision
  • Stanford Geriatric Education Center Ethnogeriatric Publications
    http://www.stanford.edu/group/ethnoger/index.html
    Twelve Ethnic Specific Modules identifing major influences in culture and how they may impact view of life and use of health care services in elderly immigrant and Native American populations.
  • The Center for Social Gerontology (TCSG)
    http://www.tcsg.org/
    The Center for Social Gerontology, Inc. (TCSG), since its inception in 1972, has been a non-profit research, training and social policy organization dedicated to promoting the individual autonomy of older persons and advancing their well-being in society. TCSG has pursued this goal through a wide variety of projects, including serving since 1985 as an Administration on Aging-funded National Support Center in Law & Aging
  • Third Age
    http://www.thirdage.com
    About itself Third Age says, "In creating Third Age.com, we wanted to make a trusted place for all of us, a place where your choices and your contributions help shape a home on the Web for our generation. We have succeeded wildly. Third Age is a vibrant, exciting place where you can always come to find friends and tools and resources to help you design your own Third Age. And what an age it is!"
  • UN Programme on Ageing
    http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/
    Creating a new "architecture" for ageing and transmitting it to the worldstage and into policy has been the focus of the United Nations Programme on Ageing since 1982, with the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing at the World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna (also known as the Vienna Plan).
  • U.S. Census Bureau
    http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/age.html
    Provides very well done, brief, and in-depth data on both boomers and older adults.
  • U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
    http://www.senate.gov/~aging/
    The Special Committee on Aging has served as a focal point in the Senate for discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans. Often, the committee will submit its findings and recommendations for legislation to the Senate. In addition, the committee publishes materials of assistance to those interested in public policies that relate to the elderly.

 

Children and Adolescents

  • ABA Center on Children and the Law
    http://www.abanet.org/child/
    The ABA Center on Children and the Law works to improve the quality of life for children thorugh advancements in law, justice, and public policy.
  • ABA Juvenile Justice Center
    http://www.abanet.org/crimjus/juvjus/home.html
    The ABA Juvenile Justice Center seeks to improve juvenile justice policy and practice.
  • ADD Resources
    http://www.addresources.org
    ADD Resources is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to help people with ADHD achieve their full potential through education, support and community networking. Our website has 100 free and carefully chosen articles on ADHD. 100 links to ADHD-related sites, a National ADHD Directory with over 825 service providers listed, and a free monthly eNews.
  • Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
    http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/acsfa/edlite-index.html
    The Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid policy. It was established by the Congress of the United States with the enactment of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 and began operation in 1988. The purpose of the Advisory Committee as originally defined by Congress in statute is to: provide extensive knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and institutional programs of postsecondary student assistance; provide technical expertise with regard to systems of need analysis and application forms; and make recommendations that will result in the maintenance of access to postsecondaryeducation for low- and middle income students.
  • Advocacy Kit
    http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/advocacykit.pdf
    Provides in-depth information on how to improve adolescent reproductive health and sexual health programs and policies by organizing at the state and local levels. The Advocacy Kit includes information on building coalitions, conducting needs assessments, planning public education campaigns, working with the media, educating policy makers, and responding to opposition. 100 p. (1996).
  • Alliance for Children and Families
    http://www.alliance1.org
    The Alliance for Children and Families is an international nonprofit association representing more than 450 child- and family-serving organizations. The Alliance is the result of a merger between Family Service America and the National Association of Homes and Services for Children. With a mission to strengthen and serve children, families, and communities, the Alliance works to deliver quality programs, information, and services to its members; advocate for children, families, and community supportive policies; and educate, inform, and train human service leaders. The Web site contains a member directory, advocacy information, Alliance publications, access to the Severson National Information Center, and program information.
  • American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
    http://www.aacap.org
    The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, which represents more than 5,600 child and adolescent psychiatrists in the United States, supports the work of its members in researching, diagnosing, and treating psychiatric disorders affecting children and adolescents. The academy provides a liaison to policymakers, conducts national public information campaigns, and publishes it's policy statements.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
    http://www.aap.org
    The American Academy of Pediatrics is a membership organization of 50,000 pediatricians dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. The academy's activities include advocating on behalf of children and youth, educating the public and professionals, conducting research, and advocating for the interests of pediatricians.
  • American Bar Association
    http://www.abanet.org
    The American Bar Association (ABA) is the national professional organization of the legal profession, principally representing practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys, and nonpracticing lawyers in other professions. The ABA's home page offers access to the following two youth-related sites:

    The ABA Center on Children and the Law (http://www.abanet.org/child/) works to improve the quality of life for children through advancements in law, justice, and public policy. In areas relating to children and families, the center works to improve laws, policies, and judicial procedures; to conduct and disseminate research on law, policy, and practice; to enhance the skills and competence of legal professionals and nonattorneys; and to increase public awareness of the law and the judicial system.

    • The ABA Juvenile Justice Center (http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/home.html) seeks to improve juvenile justice policy and practice. The center monitors juvenile-justice-related legislation, conducts projects to improve young people's access to quality counsel in juvenile delinquency proceedings, promotes juvenile justice reform through development of standards, and conducts training and technical assistance.

American Humane Association
http://www.americanhumane.org
The American Humane Association (AHA), a national network of individuals and organizations, seeks to prevent cruelty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and animals and to ensure that their interests and well-being are guaranteed by society. The AHA's Children's Division, whose home page can be accessed through the AHA's Internet address, is a national association of child welfare professionals, public and private social service agencies, medical and mental health professionals, educators, researchers, judicial and law enforcement professionals, and child advocates. The division advocates improved services to children in at-risk circumstances and their families, with the goal of ensuring that every community has effective and responsive services for children at risk of abuse and neglect.

Association for Childhood Education International
http://www.udel.edu/bateman/acei
The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) works to promote the rights, education, and well-being of all children in their homes, schools, and communities. The ACEI promotes cooperation among those serving children, works to raise the standard of preparation for those involved with the care and development of children, encourages continuous professional growth of educators, and focuses public attention on changes required in various programs to accommodate the rights and needs of children.

  • Association for Experiential Education
    http://www.aee.org
    The Association for Experiential Education (AEE) is a not-for-profit, international professional association committed to the development, practice, and evaluation of experiential learning in all settings. AEE members are individuals and organizations from a variety of disciplines, including education, recreation, outdoor adventure programming, mental health, youth services, physical education, management development training, corrections, programming for people with disabilities, and environmental education.
  • Authoritative Communities
    http://www.americanvalues.org/html/hardwired.html
    The Commission on Children at Risk is calling upon all U.S. citizens to help strengthen what it calls ``authoritative communities" as likely to be the best strategy for improving children's lives, in its report, Hardwired to Connect: The Case for Authoritative Communities. Authoritative communities are groups of people who are committed to one another over time and who exhibit and are able to pass on what it means to be a good person. These groups provide the types of connectedness our children increasingly lack.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
    http://www.bbbsa.org/site/pp.asp?c=iuJ3JgO2F&b=14576
    Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a network of mentoring organizations serving children, youth, families, and communities. Big Brothers Big Sisters arranges for professionally supported relationships between adult volunteer mentors and youth to assist young people and enrich families, communities, and society.
  • Chartbook on Health of Youth
    http://www.cmwf.org/
    Quality of Health Care for Children and Adolescents: A Chartbook is the first comprehensive national report on the quality of pediatric care. The researchers, Sheila Leatherman and Douglas McCarthy,
    reviewed over 500 studies and synthesized this information into 40 charts that provide a portrait of the current state of pediatric health care. It also identifies geographic, racial, and ethnic disparities in care for children across the United States and provides examples of quality improvement programs that have
    successfully improved care.
  • Child Care & Early Education
    http://www.childcareresearch.org/discover/index.jsp
    The "Child Care & Early Education Research Connections" promotes high quality research and child care and the use of that research in policymaking. Resources indexed and housed on the Research
    Connections site cover a broad spectrum of research on child care and early education and related policies. The collection brings together original research, syntheses, datasets, and other research-related
    resources from the wide range of social science disciplines and professional fields that study early care and education.
  • Child Trends
    http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/
    Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by providing research and data to inform decision-making that affects children. In addition to conducting its own research, Child Trends works with federal and state officials and other researchers to improve the quality, scope, and use of data on children and their families. Child Trends provides technical assistance to public agencies and private organizations that develop, analyze, track, and use statistical indicators of child and youth well-being. We also assist in the design and implementation of policy and program evaluations. You can keep up with the Latest Trends in Child and Youth Well-Being by registering for e-mail notice on new and pending data releases.
  • Children in Poverty
    http://www.nccp.org/index.html
    Child poverty is one of the most important problems facing our nation. All children deserve an equal opportunity to succeed in life, and child poverty denies too many children a fair chance.Low- income children and families are diverse, as are the communities and states in which they live. There is no single solution to child poverty. Both the public and private sectors have important roles to play in reducing child poverty and investing in families. This includes the state and federal governments, local communities, civic and business leaders, and individual families themselves.
  • Children Now
    http://www.childrennow.org/
    Children Now is a nonpartisan national advocacy organization whose mission is to improve conditions for all children. Childrern Now develops strategies for promoting improved policies affecting children, provides updates on the status of children, and works with the media to improved news coverage of children.
  • Children's Defense Fund
    http://www.childrensdefense.org
    The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to defending the rights of all American children. The CDF conducts advocacy in behalf of children, particularly poor and minority children and those who have disabilities, educating the Nation about their needs and encouraging preventive investment.
  • ChildStats.gov
    http://www.childstats.gov/
    This web site offers easy access to federal and state statistics and reports on children and their families, including: population and family characteristics, economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. Reports of the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics include America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being. The sixth annual synthesis, America's Children 2002 reports on the status of the Nation's most valuable resource, our children. This report presents 24 key indicators of the well-being of children. These indicators are monitored through official Federal statistics covering children's economic security, health, behavior and social environment, and education. The report also presents data on eight key contextual measures and includes a special feature showing children of at least one foreign-born parent.
  • Community Schools: Handbook for Policy
    http://www.communityschools.org/pubs.coal.html
    At a time when choice and testing dominate the education agenda, there is an increased need to apply some common sense and consider the critical role that community and family play in educating our children. In response to this need, The Coalition for Community Schools has released a primer to help guide state policymakers -- governors, state legislators, chief state school officers, and leaders of other state agencies-- through the vision of community schools. It describes specific actions that leaders can take to "grow" community schools in their states.
  • Education Reports from ERIC
    http://www.gpoaccess.gov/eric/index.html
    In October 2002, the U.S. Department of Education discontinued distribution of microfiche of government-funded reports from the ERIC program to the Federal Depository Library Program and began providing GPO with electronic versions of the reports. These reports are now available in GPO Acces as searchable PDF files.
  • Education Resources Information Center
    http://www.eric.ed.gov/
    The ERIC online system provides the public with a centralized ERIC Web site for searching the ERIC bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million citations going back to 1966. More than 107,000 full-text non-journal documents (issued 1993-2004), previously available through fee-based services only, are now available for free.
  • Family Support America
    http://www.familysupportamerica.org/
    In each state, a coalition of parents, state agency personnel, representatives of community-based organizations, and others concerned about the quality of human services are working in partnership with Family Support America. These coalitions are developing cutting-edge strategies for creating caring communities so that all families have access to the resources they need to raise healthy children.
    Family Support America is a membership group of agencies that work with families before they come into contact with Child Protective Services. They do not provide services themselves, although some of their member agencies may engage in community building efforts.
  • Family to Family (Annie E. Casey Foundation)
    http://www.aecf.org/initiatives/familytofamily/
    The United States child welfare system faces serious challenges that have been growing for more than a decade. In response, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, in consultation with community leaders and child welfare practitioners nationwide, has developed a reform initiative called Family to Family. Family to Family includes principles, strategies, and tools to confront the real problems faced by child welfare systems. These include: strengthening the network of families available to care for abused and neglected children in their own communities; building partnerships with at-risk neighborhoods toward that end; and
    tracking outcomes for children and families, so that child welfare systems can better learn from their experiences.
  • Generation Five
    http://www.generationfive.org/
    "Generation Five is a non-profit organization that brings together diverse community leaders working to end child sexual abuse within five generations. Our programs provide leadership training to community members, activists and agency professionals and foster
    national strategy and information exchange on child sexual abuse. We are not a direct service organization; rather, we work in collaboration with service providers to ensure that affordable, culturally relevant support is available to survivors, offenders, and
    affected families."
  • Healthy Families America
    http://www.healthyfamiliesamerica.org/home/index.shtml
    A national program model designed to help expectant and new parents get their children off to a healthy start. Families participate voluntarily in the program and receive home visiting and referrals from trained staff. By providing services to overburdened families, Healthy Families America fits into the continuum of services provided to families in many communities.
  • Jobs For the Future
    http://www.jff.org/
    Taking aim at the "hidden, national crisis" that consigns nearly five million out-of-school and unemployed young adults to a future locked out of education and family-supporting jobs, Jobs For the Future (JFF) calls on policymakers and educators around the country to get behind educational dropout prevention
    programs that successfully connect out-of-school youth with education and put them on a path to further study and solid employment.
  • Kids Count
    http://www.aecf.org/MajorInitiatives/KIDSCOUNT.aspx/a>
    Online Data Book comprises ten key measures that index child well-being. Rank of states and supplemental data on education, health, and economic conditions for each state. KIDS COUNT is a national and state- by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. This site focuses on an interactive presentation of data from the annual Data Book, the signature product of the KIDS COUNT initiative.
  • Kinship Care Information
    http://www.grandsplace.com/gp8/
    Kinship caregivers often lack the information and range of supports they need to fulfill their parenting role. In an effort to remedy this situation, a group of child and aging advocacy and research organizations has prepared Kinship Care Fact Sheets, which provide state-specific data and information for all the states directing kinship caregivers to support services that can help make their jobs easier. Children's Defense Fund provides state specific data.
  • Leaving Too Many Children Behind
    http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu/
    "No Child Left Behind: A Federal-, State- and District- Level Look at the First Year." Reports from the The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University.The reports demonstrate that federal accountability rules have derailed state reforms and assessment strategies, that the requirements have no common meaning across state lines, and that the sanctions fall especially hard on minority and integrated schools, asking for much less progress from affluent suburban schools.
  • National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse & Neglect Information
    http://www.childwelfare.gov/
  • National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
    http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/index.asp
  • Nellie Mae Education Foundation
    http://www.nmefdn.org/
    The Nellie Mai Education Foundation, formerly the Nellie Mae Foundation, is New England’s largest public charity dedicated exclusively to improving academic achievement for the region’s under-served communities. We provide grants and technical assistance to programs that concentrate on academic enrichment, college planning, advising, preparation and retention support for low-income, under-served students in grades 5 through 14, and adult learners. We also sponsor research projects and conferences that examine critical issues in education. By focusing on Adult Literacy, College Preparation, Minority High Achievement and Out-of-School Time, the Foundation is able to achieve greater impact as a force for educational improvement.
    Critical Hours. Afterschool programs have been referred to as the new neighborhood. Positive effects extend to families, employers and communities. Research indicates that investments in afterschool programs for youth are likely to have benefits that far outweigh the cost.
  • Save the Children
    http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/
    UK's leading international children's charity.
  • What Kids Can Do Publications
    http://www.whatkidscando.org/publications/index.html
    What Kids Can Do is a national nonprofit organization founded in the winter of 2001. They document the value of young people working with teachers and other adults on projects that combine powerful learning with public purpose for an audience of educators and policy makers, journalists, community members, and students. WKCD believes in expanding current views of what constitutes challenging learning and achievement, particularly for adolescents. They comb the country for compelling examples of schools and communities working together to: Challenge young people intellectually, Enlist their help with real problems, Nourish their diverse talents, Support their perseverance, Encourage their contributions as citizens..
Community Development
  • American Association of Museums
    http://www.aam-us.org/
    The American Association of Museums urges all museums to embrace their responsibility to be active and collaborative civic institutions and to respond to the aspirations and needs of citizens in their communities.... Museums are community cornerstones. They are cultural symbols and contributors to community enterprise, stewards of collections, and providers of educational experiences. They are treasured places where memories are created and shared. Museums can also transform the way people view the world.
  • Boards Build Community
    http://www.boardsource.org/main.htm
    BoardSource, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, is the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide. Through our highly acclaimed programs and services, BoardSource enables organizations to fulfill their missions by helping build strong and effective nonprofit boards.
  • Calling for 211
    http://www.211.org/
    The legislation to provide federal money to states starting or enhancing a 2-1-1 system. The "Calling for 2-1-1" Act authorizes $200 million annually from the Department of Commerce to help develop and sustain 2-1-1 nationwide. States would designate, if they have not already, a lead entity for 2-1-1 which would develop a statewide plan for implementation and administer the funds. States would be required to provide a 50% match in order to draw down the federal dollars.
  • Colorlines
    http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLabout.html
    Cultural work is prophetic. Whether the form is pulp fiction, hip hop, independent film, poetry, photography, painting, or dance, the expression reveals and recasts the social relation. ColorLines discusses and presents the best of our expressions--in literature, art, music, film, and more--and couples it with incisive criticism. It's all about presenting life in full color.
  • Community Arts Network
    http://www.communityarts.net/index.php
    The Community Arts Network (CAN) promotes information exchange, research and critical dialogue within the field of community-based arts, that is, art made as a voice and a force within a specific community of place, spirit or tradition. CAN was initiated in 1999 through a partnership between Art in the Public Interest, a national nonprofit organization, and The Virginia Tech Department of Theatre Arts' Consortium for the Study of Theatre and Community. Art and Social Justice is a blueprint for connecting with community provided in the remarks of Claudine Brown. Clarifies how main-stream institutions [like libraries!-ed.] can become cultural citizens with true collaborative partnerships.The Community Arts Network (CAN) promotes information exchange, research and critical dialogue within the field of community- based arts.
  • Community Democracy
    http://www.ncl.org
    The National Civic League, the United States' original organization advocating for the issues of community democracy, envisions a country where citizens are actively engaged in the process of self-governance and work in partnership with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of society, and where citizens are creating active civic culture reflective of the diversity of community voices.
  • Community Newspapers Empower People
    http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/124/press.html
    Community newspapers are critical because they can return to issues repeatedly, shedding light on them until they are resolved. Large newspapers and TV news, on the other hand, may drop in on the neighborhood once to report on a problem but are unlikely to return for months, if at all. And reporting in community papers almost always leads to coverage further up the media food chain.Local media in this country is becoming an oxymoron, as media giants like Viacom, Time Warner, and Clear Channel gobble up smaller news organizations. Nonprofit groups and funders can reverse the trend, helping to deliver the news and information that can truly empower people, transform communities, and change the world.
  • Community Profile
    http://www.lib.umich.edu/socwork/rescue/sw560-1.html
    A Social Work Library tutorial on how to use census and other statistical data for community needs assessments.
  • Housing Assistance Council
    http://www.ruralhome.org
    The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a national nonprofit corporation that helps local organizayions develop and build affordable housing in rural America. It also works to increase the use of low-income rural housing and community development programs for minorities and women. HAC provides below-market financing, technical assistance, program and policy analysis. research and demonstration projects, training, and services to organizations nationwide who are concerned about affordable housing.
  • Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions
    http://www.catanese.org
    Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions has remained dedicated to helping communities and decision makers resolve urban and environmental issues through partnerships, education, and research.
  • The Institute for Community Research (ICR)
    http://www.incommunityresearch.org/
    ICR uses the tools of research to build community capacity and foster collaborative community-based partnerships. By gathering information in partnership with residents, we are helping communities locally and globally to ask better questions and get better answers about the complex problems they face. We believe this process is the best way to support personal growth, broaden community leadership and foster robust democratic institutions. "Crossroads: Critical Issues in Community-Based Research Partnerships" will critically analyze the factors that contribute to effective and ineffective research partnerships; the balance between research rigor and community action; the challenges and difficulties of ensuring effective dissemination, translation and use of research results; and ethical issues related to conducting community based research in partnership.
  • National Charrett Institute
    http://www.charretteinstitute.org/
    The National Charrette Institute is a nonprofit educational institution that helps communities achieve healthy transformation through collaborative planning processes that harness the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a buildable plan. Our actions include: Training: Teaching the
    art & science of the Charrette and the Dynamic Planning process; Research: Advancing the field of community involvement: Facilitation: Facilitating collaborative problem solving to promote healthy communities.
  • The Pew Partnership
    http://www.pew-partnership.org/
    The Pew Partnership is a civic research organization. Their mission is to identify and document promising solutions and strategies crucial to strong communities. The five areas that guide Their work are: Thriving Neighborhoods, Living-Wage, Jobs, Viable Economies, Healthy Families and Children, and Collaborative Leadership. Their research explores how innovative partnerships, citizen participation, and accessible information can catalyze community solutions in these areas. They disseminate practical information about what works to citizens and practitioners everywhere.

  • Project for Public Spaces
    http://www.pps.org/
    PPS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating and sustaining public places that build communities. They provide technical assistance, education, and research through programs in parks, plazas and central squares; buildings and civic architecture; transportation; and public markets. Since their founding in 1975, they have worked in over 1,000 communities in the United States and around the world, helping people to grow their public spaces into vital community places.

  • Promoting Regional Equity
    http://www.policylink.org/pdfs/Initiatives.pdf
    This paper seeks to broaden and deepen the growing dialogue and action to promote regional equity. Opportunities for action and examples of community actors evolving their strategies and tactics to the regional reality, and successfully connecting their neighborhoods and communities to resources and opportunities throughout regions are provided.
  • Regional Progress and Sustainability
    http://www.regionalprogress.org/
    A new forum for displaying the results of projects that measure regional sustainability across the United States. Redefining Progress’ primary measures of sustainability are the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) and the Ecological Footprint. If your region or community is interested in learning more about how to measure its progress toward sustainability, please contact Redefining Progress.
  • Rural Assistance Center (RAC)
    http://www.raconline.org/about/index.html
    The is a new national resource on rural health and human services information. Information specialists
    are available to provide customized assistance, such as web and database searches on rural
    topics and funding resources, linking users to organizations, and furnishing relevant publications from the RAC resource library.
  • ShelterForce: Collaboration
    http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/129/savecollab.html
    Collaboration is a large and growing part of the landscape for community development work. Often it makes sense and leads to good results. Yet the timing is not always right, nor the ingredients in place for a successful collaborative effort. Although there's no foolproof way to predict the outcome of any undertaking that involves people and organizations working together, a few basic checkpoints can be quite revealing. And if you're already involved in a collaborative effort, these same checkpoints can help your group recognize strengths and work on weaknesses.
  • U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM)
    http://usmayors.org/uscm/home.asp
    USCM is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,183 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The primary roles of the Conference of Mayors are to: Promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy; Strengthen federal-city relationships; Ensure that federal policy meets urban needs; Provide mayors with leadership and management tools; and Create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information. An example of the information they provide is "ROLE OF METRO AREAS". The nation's metropolitan areas were responsible for "driving the economic performance of the nation as a whole last year, accounting for 98% of job growth and 86% of national economic growth, according to this report prepared for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The report contains data on each of the nation's 319 metro areas, including 2001 gross metropolitan product, as well as growth and employment figures. Economic forecasts are also provided for the 20 largest U.S. metro areas. (Lower left on page).
  • Urban and Regional Development
    http://www-iurd.ced.berkeley.edu/
    The Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD) serves faculty and students of the University of California, Berkeley, conducting research into processes of urban and regional growth and decline, and effects of governing policies on the patterns and processes of development. Focus includes sustainable development, inner city inequality, evolving patterns of suburbanization and transportation alternatives.
Criminal Justice
  • Books through Bars
    http://www.booksthroughbars.org/
    Books through Bars believes a society of social and economic inequality leads to a cycle of crime and incarceration. We work to reverse the dehumanizing effects excessive punishment inflicts upon individuals, families and communities. Books Through Bars sends quality reading material to prisoners and encourages creative dialogue on the criminal justice system, thereby educating those living inside and outside of prison walls.
  • Brennan Center for Justice
    http://www.brennancenter.org/index.html
    The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law unites thinkers and advocates in pursuit of a vision of inclusive and effective democracy. The mission is to develop and implement an innovative, nonpartisan agenda of scholarship, public education, and legal action that promotes equality and human dignity, while safeguarding fundamental freedoms. Scholarship, public education, and legal action are used to find innovative and practical solutions to intractable problems in the areas of democracy, poverty, and criminal justice.
  • Death Penalty Information Center.
    http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/
    The Death Penalty Information Center is a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment. The Center was founded in 1990 and prepares in-depth reports, issues press releases, conducts briefings for journalists,and serves as a resource to those working on this issue.
  • National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts
    http://abstractsdb.ncjrs.org/content/AbstractsDB_Search.asp
    NCJRS contains summaries of more than 180,000 criminal justice publications. To search the NCJRS collection of 7,000+ full-text publications, go to the NCJRS Virtual Library.
  • Sentencing Project
    http://www.sentencingproject.org/
    In the field of criminal justice policy, The Sentencing Project is widely known for its reports and analyses highlighting inequities in the criminal justice system.The Sentencing Project has provided technical assistance and helped establish alternative sentencing programs in more than 22 states and consulted on issues such as juvenile detention, racial disparity, and the trial of juveniles in adult court.
Employment/Labor
  • American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
    http://www.aflcio.org/
    "Best anti-poverty for working people: With a union, working people win basic rights, like a say in their jobs, safety and security. Unions help remedy discrimination because union contracts ensure that all workers are treated fairly and equally. When there's a problem on the job, workers and management can work together as equals to solve it."
  • Earned Income Tax Credit Outreach - Many Languages
    http://www.cbpp.org/eic2003/index.html
    Earned Income Tax Credits provide tax reductions and wage supplements for low-and moderate-income working families.Organizations may order a free copy of the EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT KIT at eickit@cbpp.org. Additional kits and color posters can be ordered for a minimal charge at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities at eickit@cbpp.org or 202-408-1080. Look here to view flyers in a variety of languages, including Amharic/Ethiopian, Arabic, Bosnian, Cambodian, Chinese, French, Haitian-Creole, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Laotian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, Ukranian, and Vietnamese.
  • Fairness: The Civil Rights Act of 2004.
    http://www.civilrights.org/campaigns/civil_rights_act/act_now.html
    For forty years the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has attempted to level the playing field in job opportunities, education, housing, voting and other areas. On February 11, 2004 civil rights leaders and Democrats introduced a multi-year initiative before Congress in an attempt to pass a sweeping update of the nation's laws barring discrimination.
  • JobWatch: Tracking Jobs and Wages
    http://www.jobwatch.org/
    Economic Policy Institute’s JobWatch tracks current trends in the U.S. labor market and offers up-to-date readings on its status. One component of JobWatch tracks job growth and measures it against the number of jobs the Bush Administration said would be created when their 2003 tax cut proposal was passed by Congress. Specifically, the Bush Administration has claimed that when the cuts went into effect the economy would create 5.5 million jobs from July 2003 through the end of 2004. State-by-state job trends are updated mid-month as new data are available.
  • Labor Notes
    http://labornotes.org/
    A non-profit organization that has been the voice of union activists who want to "put the movement back in the labor movement" since 1979. For years, the labor movement has been reeling from an employers' offensive. We now have real lower wages, less job security, and smaller, weaker unions than the previous generation. Employers are turning what used to be good, steady jobs into poorly-paid drudgery, often dangerous and stressful.
  • State by State Economic Report
    http://www.aflcio.org/mediacenter/resources/a-jjs-economy-0203.cfm
    Two years after the end of the recession, millions of unemployed U.S. workers still cannot find jobs. Corporations are moving millions of high-quality manufacturing and, increasingly, information sector jobs out of the country, while states face the worst budget crises in 60 years. These first-ever Economic Richter Scale reports measure the magnitude of the economic problems facing each state and all of America.(click on 'state economic snapshots).

Health Care

Mental and Developmental Disabilities
  • Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
    http://www.bazelon.org/welcome.html
    The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that conducts advocacy on behalf of people with mental illness and mental retardation by working to reform public systems that serve these populations; improve access to housing, health care, and support services; enhance services and support to children with disabilities, including helping them gain access to Federal disability benefits and appropriate home- and community-based care; protect these populations from discrimination; and provide income support. Publications available (print and online)
  • Beach Center on Disability
    http://www.beachcenter.org/
    The Beach Center on Disability is a rehabilitation research and training center funded by the University of Kansas, private donations, and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The center provides parent training, and develops education and training materials to assist families who have members with disabilities and to influence national policy regarding the welfare of persons with developmental disabilities. Publications online.
Migrant Workers and Immigrants
  • Adult Literacy and Basic Education
    http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/hotsites/hotsites.html
    The National LINCS team at the National Institute for Literacy has a HOT Sites award program to highlight and promote the "best" Web-based resources in and for the adult basic education and literacy community. Latest include topics of importance for learners of English as a second language; health related activities for beginner and low-literacy ESL students;online reading and writing curriculum specifically for Family Child Care Providers, Children and Families; and the Virginia Adult Education Health Literacy Toolkit
  • Freedom Ride Rolls
    http://www.iwfr.org/
    Immigrant workers work hard, pay taxes, and sacrifice for their families. They work as construction workers, doctors, nurses, janitors, meat packers, chefs, busboys, engineers, farm workers, and soldiers. They care for our children, tend to our elderly, pick and serve our food, build and clean our houses, and want what we all want: a fair shot at the American Dream.
  • The New Neighbors A User's Guide to Data on Immigrants in U.S. Communities
    http://www.urban.org/urlprint.cfm?ID=8568 (brief)
    http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/310844_the_new_neighbors.pdf (entire articles)
    Prepared by The Urban Institute with the support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The guidebook is available for all users but is designed specifically for Casey Foundation Making Connections partners, Casey Civic Sites partners, and Kids Count grantees.
  • National Council of La Raza
    http://www.nclr.org
    The National Council of La Raza - the largest national constituency-based Hispanic organization and the leading voice in Washington, DC for the Hispanic community - is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization established to reduce poverty and discrimination and improve life opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Four major functions provide essential focus to the organization’s work: capacity-building assistance; applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy; public information efforts; and special and international projects. These functions complement NCLR’s work in five key strategic priorities - education, assets/investment, economic mobility, health, and media/image/civil rights.
  • A Shameful Harvest
    http://www.prospect.o