Poverty, neglect, or family stress can make it especially difficult for young children to develop the self-discipline and habits of mind they will need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. Armed with research and a commitment to the whole child, Washington state has transformed the way its agencies work together and in partnership with…

Family mediation is described as "helping to find a solution that meets the needs of you, your partner and any children, and that you all feel is fair". There is a growing consensus that, in comparison with court hearings, family mediation improves outcomes for parents and children, in cases of child contact and residence dispute.…

The article describes a strategy for evaluating alternatives in intervention in families having children with handicaps using the values framework proposed by Nicholas Hobbs. A practitioners' checklist is offered as a guide for assessing the consistency of proposed interventions with the values framework. (Author/DB)

The article examines several different approaches to case management practices. An enabling model of case management is proposed as a framework for ensuring that early intervention practices optimally influence child, parent, and family functioning as part of development and implementation of Individualized Family Service Plans. (DB)

During first year of operation, Teen Line (peer telephone listening service) received 2,270 calls, two-thirds of which were from females. Four percent of topics discussed dealt with crisis situations (suicide, physical abuse); 96 percent were concerned with issues such as peer relationships, family dynamics, and need to have someone "to talk to."…

The project, Extending Family Resources, was designed to assess the impact on 14 families of raising children with handicapping conditions and to implement a model program to reduce obstacles facing those families. The model emphasized incorporating under-involved relatives, friends, and neighbors into the family's support network. Performance…

Describes the partners' group model used at the Winona (Minnesota) Women's Resource Center which combines support, therapy, and education to work with rural women who are survivors of domestic violence. Indicates the model is especially effective if the women's partners are also in treatment and the community supports the groups. (NEC)

This issue brief from the National Association of Child Advocates provides background on traditional child protective services (CPS) systems, including weaknesses of the traditional CPS model, and describes the underlying philosophy and practical application of the CPS reform models that are being implemented in a number of states. Key elements of…

Using wife battering as a representative presenting problem, this paper presents an interactional, systematic framework of the therapist's management of clients who are involved in life-threatening situations, e.g., cases including suicidal threats, drug abuse, alcoholism, or child or spouse abuse. Several linear-causal theories of addressing…

This article describes a practical approach to treating addictive families, designed to help them repair the damage, create more satisfying lives, and prevent long-lasting deleterious effects, commonly associated with "co-dependency" and "children of addicts." This approach is grounded in a developmental model of family recovery which was devised…

The genogram can be used in an initial interview, as an organizing conceptual approach to the study of a family system. As a family tree, the genogram is a portrait of a family system over time and space. It's a structural diagram of a family's three-generational relationship system--an overview of emotional problems within the context of the…

Cognitively impaired elderly are often cared for by their families, but little clinical intervention has been aimed at helping families to cope with behavior problems. Families may benefit from learning behavior management strategies successfully utilized with institutionalized elderly. Several case examples are discussed. (Author/RC)

On June 9, 1987, a hearing was held for the purpose of receiving testimony about family preservation programs that aim to keep children out of foster care by strengthening troubled families. Testifying were program providers, a juvenile court judge, and families who have benefited from family preservation services. Testimony focused on the…

Despite all the recent attention being focused on the mental health of children, there remains a scarcity of effective programs for troubled youngsters and their families. One major reason for this failure to provide appropriate resources may be found in the inappropriate delivery systems developed for this task. An innovative family advocacy…

Problems related to family violence are complex and multi-faceted and involve large numbers of people in this country. A number of types of violence in families are identified initially; however, the manual focuses on the concerns of battered women, or interspousal abuse. Information focuses on: (1) the nature, causes and effects of family…