The Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), is a community-specific strategy delivered through eight regional networks designed to address the full spectrum of community-based prevention. This article summarizes a strong and meaningful pattern of improvements…

This article describes a community assessment process designed to evaluate a specific child welfare jurisdiction based on the current definition of trauma-informed child welfare and its essential elements. This process has recently been developed and pilot tested within three diverse child welfare systems in the United States. The purpose of the…

Much controversy exists regarding the effectiveness of residential treatment. Recently, emerging research has demonstrated that community-based residential treatment has more positive long-term outcomes for youth. This article describes a community-based program that was implemented at a residential treatment agency serving youth. Targeted…

This paper describes an effort to bridge research and practice in residential care through implementing a program model titled Children and Residential Experiences (CARE). The strategy involves consulting at all levels of the organization to guide personnel to incorporate CARE evidence-based principles into daily practice, and fostering an…

Describes a community-based program to divert youths from the juvenile justice system. The program's special features are (1) data collection that permits evaluation and accountability and (2) liaison with justice personnel, service agencies, and the community. (RH)

Describes a demonstration project for placement planning and support service in a public agency. Reports program outcomes of increased stability in foster care placements for adolescents who had multiple placement failures and who were alienated from family and other social institutions. (NH)

Describes the pilot phase of an innovative program that uses a structured group format to orient parents to their expected roles and to educate and support them in the process of deciding their children's futures. (Author/MP)

Describes a pilot staff development project at Christie School, a residential center with a capacity for 38 emotionally disturbed children. (RH)

From an administrative view, reports an experience in implementing the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) technique at a residential treatment setting for children. (MP)

Describes the Teen Pregnancy Project, which began in Savannah, Georgia, in 1981 as an effort to reduce mortality rates of at-risk infants, and has grown into a multiservice program with many approaches. Stresses the need for a home visitation initiative to reach clients. (SKC)

Describes a study of the effects of the Good Start program, which provides home-based intervention to families at risk of child maltreatment. Finds that families appear to improve over the course of treatment. Notes signs that indicate which families are most likely to improve. (SAK)

The theory of foster-adoptive programs is explained and analyzed. The term "flexible family resource" describes the acceptance by trained families of children who have not yet had parental rights terminated, and thus may return to their biological parents at some time. Although this idea is promising, further research is indicated. (DG)

Discusses the function of a screening unit in the Bronx Field Office of Special Services for Children. The screening unit determines whether suspect child-abuse reports are unfounded or genuine. (Author/DB)

Presents basic concepts and techniques for developing an effective, supportive program for supervising child care workers in residential facilities. (CM)

Describes observations and interventions made by a social services agency in Israel as it attempted to develop a low-cost, efficient method of early intervention. Skilled social workers were hired and given special training. They then worked with caregivers in day care centers where children and parents were defined as at-risk. (SKC)