Acknowledgments The authors wish to express their gratitude to Martella Pollard, Head Start Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, the Federal Project Officer whose continuing support, review and careful criticism provided guidance for the preparation of the User's Guide. In addition, we wish to thank E. Dollie Wolverton, Michelle Plutro, and Trellis Waxier of the Head Start Bureau of Education Services for the valuable contributions they made in planning and reviewing the Guide.
We especially want to thank the following local Head Start programs who al lowed us to observe and record valuable information on their various approaches to providing individualized services to children and families: Cambria County Community Action Council, Inc., Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Head Start Child Development Council, Inc., Stockton, California; Richmond Public Schools/Head Start, Richmond, Virginia; and Tohono O'Odham Nation, Sells Arizona. Nine Head Start home-based programs were selected to review materials developed under this contract. The parents and staff of the following agencies contributed valuable input Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, Burlington, Vermont; Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, Knoxville, Tennessee; Lakes and Pines Community Action Council, Inc., Mora, Minnesota; Child, Inc., Austin, Texas; Panhandle Community Services, Gering, Nebraska; Bear River Community Action Agency, Logan, Utah; Child-Parent Centers, Inc., Tucson, Arizona; Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska; and Central Tribes of the Shawnee Area, Inc., Shawnee, Oklahoma. A Panel of Experts, representing various disciplines, was selected to assist in the development of materials. They provided helpful suggestions and constructive re view in the development of this Guide. The members of the Panel of Experts were; Blanca E. Almonte, Chicago, Illinois; Mary Claire Heffron, Berkeley, California; Jean C. Monroe, Walnut Creek. California; Katherine Clifford, Redwood City, California; Mary K. Maples, Syracuse, New York. Sheri N. Noble, Hyrum, Utah; Linda Reasoner, Russellville, Arkansas; Connie Provencio, Oxnard, California; and Ross Weaver, Boston, Massachusetts.
We express gratitude and special thanks to the staff and consultants of Trans-Management Systems Corporation who contributed to the preparation of the handbook the late Ron Dixon, Administrative Assistant, who processed the handbook. Nancy Mallory, editor; Joe Azar, illustrations; and Glenn Klaus, graphic layout.