Our commentary highlights the authors' conceptual and empirical contributions for understanding the incidence and dynamics of varying types of adoption breakdowns and their impact on adopted youth and their families. Important distinctions are made between legal, residential, and psychological/relational permanence for children. To date, most…

The best education no doubt comes from a student staying in one school system from elementary to high school. Some students are fortunate to have a consistent education; some are not as fortunate. Continuity in instruction, learner outcomes, emotional stability, and social relationships prevail when students live in one location as long as…

While significant attention has been paid to Wall Street investors and families impacted by the current subprime mortgage crisis in the USA, the lives of Sesame Street are minimally discussed. Children and their families are enduring a variety of consequences of foreclosures. The consequences can be hugely disruptive to the approximately 2 million…

Discusses the ways in which children of different ages respond to divorce or death in the family. Suggests that an open, caring teacher can reach and teach emotionally troubled students by creating an emotional climate for learning. (DMM)

The author comments on Ryan, Barham, and Fine ("The Functional Role of School Problems in a Child's Family"; v16 n4 1985), explaining the systemic relations between the child, family, and schools. On the next pages, Ryan et al. reply to Turgay's comments. (MT)

Street children, as the offspring of complex contemporary urban environments, represent one of our most serious global challenges. Article discusses the causes of this phenomenon, characteristics of street children throughout the world, and specific circumstances in Nepal, Indonesia, India, Latin America, and the Philippines. (Author/EMK)

This paper presents the testimony of Gina Adams before the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Hearing on "Improving Early Childhood Development Policies and Practices." This testimony was presented to the House Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives last March 19, 2009. She talks about how…

Research suggests it is possible for a child's school-based problem to have some sort of functional role in the family system, but serious work is needed to understand how it happens. Three cases are described. (MT)

This essay with photographs describes the experiences of two runaways, examining why they left home and how they found help. Although runaways have a reputation for being irresponsible, they usually have good reasons for leaving home. The nun who ran Noah's Ark, where both the runaways featured found shelter and help, estimated that only about two…

The parents of a severely asthmatic junior high school student with learning problems seek counseling concerning marital problems, conflicting approaches to child rearing, and their child's educational needs. (DB)

Points out problems of young people whose troubled lives are further endangered by the decline in the American economy. Advocates a major job program for youth. (RH)

Discusses the history of runaways, runaways and the law, reasons for running, and help for runaways. Suggests ways in which school officials can deal with the runaway problem. (JOW)

Counselors who work with children and adolescents are well aware of the problems, frustrations, and feelings of hopelessness that these youngsters often bring to the counseling session. However, counselors may be less aware of what is happening in society-at-large. The 1980s and early 1990s have been characterized by high unemployment. It is clear…

Substance abuse among U.S. Blacks is discussed as the concomitant of a chaotic, rapidly changing, and exploitative society. The impact on families and children of drug and alcohol use is viewed as a personal issue; however, it is a public issue because its causes lie in the social structure. (SLD)

Addresses the parental alienation syndrome, which is the process by which one parent overtly or covertly speaks or acts in a derogatory manner to or about the other parent during or subsequent to a divorce proceeding, in an attempt to alienate the child or children from that other parent. (Author)