Why are child welfare agencies more hospitable to assessment than family service agencies? What are the implications for other fields of practice? These and other issues are discussed, along with a useful formula for studying practice principles. To illustrate this formula, agency-based demonstration programs are described. (Author)

Families have made provisions for child care to allow parents to work in agriculture and industry. Changes in family structure and in women's role require a refocussing of attention on the child care arrangements of families. Examines historical foundations, current issues, and future concerns related to child care. (Author)

For all students to achieve a certain academic achievement level, educators must broaden their understanding of how children learn and ensure that financial resources are provided for child- and family-support services beginning at birth. This article reviews research that forms the basis for this recommendation, highlighting the School of the…

Family homelessness has emerged as a serious global problem (Stronge, 2000). Over the past 25 years in the United States, the makeup of the homeless population has changed significantly. As De Angelis (1994) reports: The landscape of homelessness has changed since the early 1980s, when nearly all homeless people were men. Today,…

Basic information about respite care for individuals with disabilities and their families is presented in a question-and-answer format. The following questions are addressed: "What is respite?"; "Who needs respite services?"; "Who provides respite services?"; "What kinds of services are provided?"; "How…

A review of literature was conducted in order to: (1) determine whether factors placing the young child at risk for school failure can be identified; (2) determine whether early family interventions and early childhood programs are effective; and (3) identify policy implications. Findings are summarized, and recommendations are offered. Research…

Describes a paradigm for identifying male involvement in Comprehensive Child Development Programs (CCDP) that is based on 4 years of service delivery for 40 adult males participating in Project EAGLE, a federally funded CCDP in Kansas City (Kansas). The paper addresses issues of diversity of characteristics and participation patterns of the males…

This article provides a rationale for developing communication/interviewing skills of early childhood interventionists, presents information on training in family interviewing and communication skills, describes perspectives of interventionists who have attended a workshop on the family-focused interview, and suggests strategies to help…

Traces the development of a deficit perspective of low-income, nonmainstream families through a historical review of parent involvement in kindergarten, preschool programs, and various at-risk early childhood programs. Both covert and overt deficit perspectives toward low-income families have prevented early intervention programs from fully…

Considers the emergence of family-centered child care as a program model. Presents an historical overview of the family as a child-care component of quality and past efforts in parent education and parent involvement. Outlines a conceptual framework for family-centered child care, and discusses implications for public policy. (Author/KB)

In the traditional family preservation model, a family's integrity is preserved by keeping children in the care of their immediate or extended families. Family reunification has involved safely returning children to the custody of their families after a period of foster care. However, families are not preserved solely by family members maintaining…

Noting the while there may be much support for the principle that families on welfare should have access to 2 years of education and training and then be expected to work, this paper contends that it will be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, to design a coherent and constructive program within the probable federal budget constraints. In…

This document contains a summary of a policy seminar, "Family Centered Social Policy: The Emerging Agenda," a background briefing report on the seminar, and a 50-item reference list. The first section summarizes presentations by K. M. Harris on a Baltimore study of teen mothers' welfare experience; Robert Lerman on young fathers; and…

These 11 papers begin by discussing the delivery of mental health services to non-urban black consumers, focusing on traditional education for practice, ethnocultural sensitivity, and geography and victimization. The expanding clinical social work roles in nontraditional approaches to rural aging are discussed also, and mental health, social work…

This article explores the role of values in social science research and in public policymaking for programs that intervene in the lives of children and their families. A values classification scheme is described that was used in the To Strengthen Families Project. (PP)