Introduces special theme issue on concerns facing family foster care in the 21st century. Discusses the challenges of serving increased numbers of children in the out-of-home care system and areas of concern in responding to the need for change, including meeting the needs of special populations and responding to mandates for expedited permanency.…

Interviews about educational experiences and needs with 36 British working-class fathers were used to develop family "taster" courses in bricklaying, woodworking, and computers, offered at times and locations that enabled joint activities with children. Course participants welcomed the opportunity to share existing skills and develop new…

Examined the extent of family-centered practices in early intervention, professionals' and families' values about the practices, and relation of participants' characteristics to practices. Found that professionals reported more family-centered typical practice than did families. Home-based services were most predictive of frequent reports of…

Presents an exclusive interview with Karl Dennis, one of the pioneers of the wraparound approach to providing youth and family services, who shares his insights on how this system of unconditional care can help build resilient families and communities. (Author/GCP)

Surveys reactions and preferences related to a support program for siblings (N=40) of children with disabilities. Results identified the benefits participants received from the program and the different components participants preferred, such as favored recreational activities. Suggests the clinical utility of the program for school personnel…

Investigates the needs, as perceived by the offender, of families with incarcerated individuals. Seeks to determine inmates' family and parenting issues and concerns, and to assess their interest in formal and informal family services. Results demonstrate that although male and female inmates have different concerns, both seem to value their…

A Maine elementary principal discovered that a family game night, complete with food and door prizes, helps build a sense of community by giving parents an opportunity to interact informally with school staff and students. It is particularly effective with previously uninvolved parents. (MLH)

EDUFAIM (Educating Families to Achieve Independence in Montana) was designed to integrate state efforts to help welfare recipients attain self-sufficiency through education in nutrition, health, family development, resource management, and housing. Evaluation of 34 participants showed changes in locus of control, depression, anxiety, knowledge,…

Studied the perceptions of African American families about involvement with technology in an after-school family-school program. Families reported positive attitudes and outcomes from the program, and indicated that computer use was a major motivational factor in their participation. (SLD)

Examines patterns of use and predictors of unmet needs among a sample of 74 Latino grandparent caregivers. Lack of knowledge was the major barrier to service use, and predictors of unmet needs included low education, poor health, high levels of life stress, and lack of reliable help with child rearing. (Author/GCP)

Describes current approaches to adolescent substance abuse treatment, including the 12-step treatment approach, behavioral treatment approach, family-based treatment approach, and therapeutic community approach. Summarizes research that assesses the effectiveness of these models, offering findings from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's…

Examines the history and current structure of "children's allowances" (cash grants from the government to families with children) around the world and particularly in the United States, to provide a framework for children's savings accounts--long-term savings and asset accumulation for all children. Considers public policy directions for…

This article presents a multistage migration framework to broaden the lens through which child welfare personnel can view immigrant and refugee families and their children. By better understanding the family's experiences in both emigration and immigration, including reasons for leaving their home country, experiences in transit, and reception and…

This study followed baseline samples of 424 unipolar depressed patients and 424 community controls across 10 years to investigate the association between depression and alcohol-related coping and to examine how life context vulnerabilities underlie the risk for depressed individuals to rely on drinking to cope. Findings supported all hypotheses.…

Family-centered positive psychology (FCPP) is defined as a framework for working with children and families that promotes strengths and capacity building within individuals and systems, rather than one focusing solely on the resolution of problems or remediation of deficiencies. This approach to family-based services is predicated on the belief…