Faculty
James E. Van Horn
Professor, Ph.D., CFLE,Family Sociology,The Ohio State University, 1974,
MS Family Sociology and Marital and Family Counseling, The Catholic University of America
Director, Penn Sate Better Kid Care Project
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Email address: jev@psu.edu Telephone: 1-814-863-8646 Fax: 1-814-865-7893 (BKC Office) Office address: 111A Armsby Building University Park, PA 16802 253 Easterly Pkwy State College, Pa 16801
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Research Interests
My research interests lie in the cross cultural examination of early childhood programs in selected European Union countries. The study includes the corporate/agency structures, relationship to the community, families and children and the role that child care plays in the economic system related to mothers in the work force, government laws and regulations, and employee benefits.
Results of the on-going study are reflected in my extension work of assisting child care programs adopt/adapt models and best practices in the U.S. child care system.
Outreach/Extension Interests
My extension programming is in the area of rural families and the child care systems, with particular interest in the rural areas. These interests relate to the interplay between the various systems (community, business, economy, families and governments). I am especially interested in the development of the small business of providing child care in the rural areas.
Current/Recent Courses
For many years taught Rural Sociology 422- Families in Rural America. Prior to teaching Rural Soc. 422 I taught Rural Soc. 425 –Poverty Analysis
Recent Selected Publications
Over the last 14 years, I was the executive producer and host for the Better Kid Care televised professional development workshops broadcast nationally on satellite and internationally on the Internet.
Van Horn, James E and James G. Beierlein, 2001 Employee Options for Child Care, the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension.
Various extension publications covering topics related to community, families and child and child care.
Recent Awards and Recognition
Received “Career Achievement Award,” National Association of Family Life Specialists (1995).
Received “National Service Award”, National Council on Family Relation, Certified Family Life Education Program (1997).
Received national award “Outstanding Educational Program,” ADEC–American Distance Education Council (1999).
Awarded “Penn State University Faculty Outreach Award,” Penn State University (2000).