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In this study, the authors examined participation rates in, and attitudes toward, service in community settings in a sample of 936 academically talented adolescents. Results indicated that about 50% of the participants participated in both classroom-sponsored and organization-sponsored service activities, with female students reporting higher rates than male students. Participation rates increased with increases in socioeconomic status, and rates in organization-sponsored activities increased across grade levels. Attitudes toward service were generally positive, with female students having more positive attitudes than male students. These findings mirror results from studies of nonidentified students and suggest that differences in participation rates in service activities may be reflecting differences in economic circumstances that allow for participation. Putting the Research to Use: As service learning involves combining academic content with meaningful service in communities, there are those who believe that service learning is particularly well suited to students who are at the upper end of the academic achievement distribution and that these students have the potential to benefit from service learning to a greater extent than their less talented peers. The results of this study suggest that in many ways, academically talented students' participation in service activities is similar to that of their nonidentified peers but also raise important questions about the relationships of context for participation in service activities. Findings from this study suggest that socioeconomic status may limit options for participation in service activities, both at the individual and school levels, and if this proves to be correct, this needs to be countered both by teachers and through policies at the district level. Keywords: academically talented youth; service learning; service activities; minority youth

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of a telephone-screening system to identify persons eligible for home- and community-based long-term care. Design and Methods: Data from Michigan telephone screens were compared to data from in-person assessments using the Minimum Data Set for Home Care (MDS-HC). Weighted kappa statistics measured the level of agreement between the two assessments. Results: Overall, recommendations based on the telephone screen produced a marginal match compared to recommendations based on in-person assessment. 'False positives' (individuals scoring as more impaired on the telephone screen than in person) occurred in 27% of all cases, while 'false negatives' (individuals scoring as less impaired on the telephone screen) only occurred among 6% of the callers. Neither individual screen questions, source of information, location of the individual, timing between screen and assessment, nor temporal changes accounted for mismatches. Telephone screens resulted in an 11% savings over the cost of providing in person assessments to all program seekers. Implications: The telephone screen has utility as a broad targeting mechanism that allows agencies to avoid costly in-person assessments for all program seekers. Evidence does not support use of the telephone screen alone to determine either medical eligibility or a specific level of care. Key Words: Long-term care, Preadmission screening, Eligibility, Nursing home, Home care, Assessment, MDS-HC

Canadian survey of amount of volunteerism and community service based on regional and community differences.

A study that examines the relative contribution of psychological engagement with a service activity and number of hours spent in that activity as predictors of change over time in community belonging and social responsibility is illustrated. Psychological engagement, but not number of hours spent, accounted for significant unique variability of change in community belonging and social responsibility.

'Promoting sustainable communities' 'Creating communities for good' 'Connecting people' 'Building tomorrow's community' Those slogans are typical of those used by community foundations nationwide, and they vividly capture the aims of [...]

Nurses are showing little interest in running social enterprises, a Nursing Standard survey reveals. The poll of England's ten strategic health authorities, which oversee the country's primary care trusts (PCTs), [...]