This article confronts concerns in providing family intervention services to the growing population of non-White, non-Anglo families. Strategies are offered for gathering information about these families while respecting their nonmainstream culture, values, and beliefs. Alternative perspectives on child rearing, disability, medicine, intervention,…

Argues that although home visiting programs themselves have mixed results in addressing family health and welfare needs, such programs, as part of a comprehensive, family-focused health and social services system, can have an important impact on the health and welfare of children. (MDM)

Proposes a renewed focus on parent education in early intervention but urges the development of strategies that are consistent with contemporary family-service concepts, the provision of explicit instruction to service providers in parent education strategies, and research studies on short- and long-term effects of parent education. (Author/DB)

Discussion of problems faced by early interventionists in working with families offers practical guidelines for developing effective collaborations between early intervention programs and families. These include establishing family-centered services and rules for clinician/parent communication, encouraging the family to be a genuine coparticipant,…

This article discusses the importance of the interdisciplinary, family-centered approach to early intervention and the critical relevance of the knowledge and skills of pediatric physical therapists to remediate complex impairments of young children while meeting family needs. It presents advance competencies in pediatric physical therapy for…

Presents a model intervention program for young children with disabilities based on a public health approach that is empirically driven, with correspondence rules relating the independent to the dependent variables. The program was designed to provide a total-service intervention for infants prenatally exposed to cocaine. (Author/CR)

Summarizes the status of public funding for child protection, contrasts expenditures for foster care versus family services, and traces the links between public assistance and child protection policies. The possibility that the 1996 federal welfare reform law may increase the need for child welfare services and drive up costs of child protection…

This article explores components of family-centered care and challenges professionals encounter as they work with families in which abuse/neglect is suspected or is occurring. Strategies for working with families in a family-centered manner that promotes a sense of empowerment in family members, while ensuring the safety of children, are offered.…

Presents some findings from a 3-year study of a voluntary organization, Home Start, which offers support to mothers with children under 5 through volunteer home visiting. Discusses the activities of Home-Start in the context of debate over appropriate policy and practice linking family support with health visiting, employment policy, education,…

Examines the way the German child welfare system responds to parental requests for help by comparing experiences of families in England and Germany. Describes the German context and provides a case study of one mother's experiences with the welfare system. Highlights key features of the German child care system that facilitate the process of…

Describes a unified, statewide effort to increase outreach activities targeted to ethnic minority families with a demented relative. Provides data demonstrating the effectiveness of these programs. (SNR)

This article discusses how clinicians can work with parents of young children with disabilities who may themselves have mental health disorders. Recommendations are provided for an initial approach to parents with mental health challenges, referral to psychiatric personnel, establishing trust and rapport, and sustaining a relationship with parents…

This article discusses the increasing population of children from diverse backgrounds and suggests commonsense methods for team development of cultural competence for the provision of appropriate early intervention services to linguistically and culturally diverse families. Recommendations for using interpreters and developing models for family…

This study investigated Venezuelan university students' perceptions regarding domestic violence and possible encounters with domestic violence in programs for young children. Students indicated that they expected to encounter only those situations they were prepared to confront, indicating needs for curriculum changes in teacher-training programs.…

Introduced in 1997, Quebec's family policy includes an integrated family allowance program, comprehensive early childhood development and child care services, and a parental insurance plan. Government funding and regulation ensure that affordable/free child care is available to all children aged 0-12, child caregivers receive training and adequate…