Suggests that systemic child welfare reforms must ultimately encompass all systems that serve vulnerable families and children. Argues that in addition to developing new approaches to service, current reform initiatives should also demonstrate the feasibility of using existing data for longitudinal analyses that are critical to evaluating…

Described is the Ninos Especiales Program, a 3-year demonstration project in Hartford, Connecticut, which provided culturally sensitive early intervention services to 34 infants with severe disabilities and their families of Puerto Rican heritage. Included is information on program philosophy, services, evaluation, and participating families.…

Discusses how home visiting, as a process, can be used to improve the health and development of young children, outlining a conceptual framework to evaluate home visiting programs. Argues that successful programs must be comprehensive in their approach to addressing children's and families' needs in multiple health and development domains. (MDM)

Describes the development, implementation, and replication of a group-based parenting program for families affected by substance abuse, called the Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery in Massachusetts. Highlights early evaluation results showing that the program improves parenting and enhances parents'…

The 1996 welfare reform made extended welfare stays more difficult. One of the most notable provisions was the 60-month lifetime limit on cash benefits through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. This study investigated the personal characteristics associated with accumulating more months on TANF. Using four waves of data…

This article presents information on treatment services received by women participating in an initial multistate evaluation of CASAWORKS families. Results indicated most women received services to address medical, employment, basic needs, alcohol and drug, family, and psychiatric problems during the first six months of the program. The clients…

The authors examined the effects of antipoverty programs on children's cumulative poverty-related risk and the relationship between cumulative poverty-related risk and child outcomes among low-income families. Samples included 419 children ages 3-10 years in the New Hope program and 759 children ages 2-9 years in the Minnesota Family …

The Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program is a statewide parent education and support program for all families in Minnesota with children between birth and kindergarten. This document describes the program evaluation procedures and contains forms related to the evaluation. The program evaluation uses a multi-level approach incorporating…

This newsletter issue focuses on the 10 years of leadership provided by the Family Resource Coalition in the support of families. The centerpiece of this anniversary issue is an interview with Coalition founder and President Bernice Weissbourd, exploring how the original ideas of the family resource movement have been implemented over the past 10…

This paper presents results from interviews with 48 New York families of children with severe disabilities or chronic illnesses who were served by Sick Kids (need) Involved People (SKIP) of New York, Incorporated, a case management and advocacy service. The report is divided into sections on the families and their children, daily routine,…

This volume presents the findings of the second year of a 3-year evaluation of Project Giant Step, focussing on the effects of the project on children, families, and staff. Begun in the fall of 1986, Project Giant Step is a half-day comprehensive program for 4-year old, low-income children and their families in New York City who are not served by…

The Living for the Young Family through Education (LYFE) program is a school-based daycare and support program for adolescent parents and their children in the New York City Public Schools. Infants receive daycare services in the LYFE nursery, usually located in the high school. Parents receive social services provided by a social worker and…

This paper addresses issues important to maintaining a volunteer effort in research and evaluation studies. The Research Department of Child and Family Services, a private agency in Connecticut, conducted a statewide study of children and youth in long-term foster care. Eighty-seven volunteers, mainly from the Junior League, were recruited to…

This report, sixth in a series of Child and Family Resource Program (CFRP) evaluations, focuses on CFRP impact on families within outcome domains other than child development after a year and a half of program participation, additionally describing the nature and extent of that participation. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the CFRP evaluation…

This is a report of a comprehensive evaluation of the Arizona Job Colleges and provides an analysis of the effectiveness of AJC with respect to improving the client family's life; specifically, in their job and income, family activities, community activities, material well being, good consumer practices, and attitudes and outlook on life. The…