This report presents data from 1999 surveys of people living in Chicago shelters and warming centers for families with children. The surveys asked about the impacts of welfare reform on respondents' lives. Researchers also surveyed housing and food assistance agencies, shelters, and other social service agencies. Of 481 families surveyed, 44…

This report describes family centered employment strategies. It begins with a look at the economics of families in poverty and provides a brief outline of the many ways in which employment and training programs have begun to work with families. The report then examines the work of four employment programs now offering employment services to…

Early Head Start began with 68 new programs in 1995, and today, more than 600 programs serve some 45,000 low-income families with infants and toddlers. This two-generation program provides high-quality child and family development services, a focus on staff development, and a commitment to community partnerships. A rigorous national evaluation,…

This book makes extensive use of photographs to document successful community-based family support programs that enable families and their children to overcome cycles of poverty, drugs, and violence. The book begins with an essay by Roger Rosenblatt discussing the history of childhood in America and the growth of community-based programs; the…

The belief that adoption of, adherence to, and use of family support principles is associated with better parent, family, and child outcomes has for the most part gone untested but not unchallenged. This monograph investigates the relationship between practitioner adherence to family support principles and parent, family, and child behavior and…

This policy brief is the fifth of a series of analyses of Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) data by CLASP (Center for Law and Social Policy). It describes the picture for Head Start and Early Head Start children, families, and programs in the 2002-2003 program year. In this brief, "Head Start" refers to all Head Start programs, including…

The author describes a program in which the families of migrant workers were educated, trained, and placed in permanent jobs. This program also provided health, counseling, and child care services. (RWP)

Home economists must discuss basic survival needs and isolate the unique contribution of home economics to the solution of pervasive social and economic problems. People need an adequate diet, adequate housing and clothing, a healthy environment, and good medical care. Home economics focuses on the family and must concentrate on the problems,…

Suggests that money spent to police child abuse among low-income families should be used to assist families in need of relief before abuse occurs and to monitor institutions and law enforcement agencies that purport to protect children from their abusive parents. (Author/GC)

To effectively change public policy for children and families (1) the citizenry must have a sense of the immediacy of the problem, (2) a broad-based lobby must be built to support the formulation of policy, and (3) pivotal leverage points within government at which pressure can be directed must be identified. (Author/RH)

Presents a brief analytic summary of all readily available social and psychological research concerning apparent causes and consequences of adolescent childbearing. Existing federal programs addressed to this problem are listed with recommendations for further development of public policies and programs. (Author)

Explores the diminishing role of federal government following a series of legislative mandates to maximize equal educational opportunity. Also examines the escalating poverty rate resulting from the economic restructuring of the country. Calls for systemic reform in education, health and human services followed by an integration of these services.…

Examines the evidence base for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) intervention, distinguishing between experimental work identifying a treatment effect and research establishing ecological validity. Asserts that research should address which program components are helpful for which children and families in which contexts. Draws on current…

Describes the "Educate Your Child" program, a Cuban family-based program supported by UNICEF and designed to enhance the total development of children from birth until the start of formal schooling for the 80 percent of Cuban children who do not attend the Children's Circle preschool program. Highlights the importance of the regional…

Two studies collected quantitative and qualitative data from 24 families participating in an 8-hour outdoor adventure program and from 11 families in a residential family camping program. Findings demonstrate a strong positive relationship between structured outdoor family programming and family strength, and suggest that adventure activities…