Keeping Families Together

Keeping Families Together
Author: Charlotte Booth
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2017-07-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1351510274

When a family's problems become so severe that traditional community resources are unable to help them effectively, caseworkers are usually advised to place children outside the home. Family preservation services such as Homebuilders are designed to give caseworkers and families another option: services that are more intensive, accessible, flexible, and goal-oriented than conventional supports. Instead of relieving family pressure by removing a child, the approach described here adds resources to alleviate pressure and to facilitate the development of a nurturing environment for children within the context of the family. Whereas crisis intervention attempts to resolve immediate problems their approach enables the family to function better after the crisis than before. In addition to their obvious social benefits, family preservation services are cost effective. Straightforward and practice-oriented, Keeping Families Together profiles the kinds of families that are assisted by prevention services such as this, tracing the salient features of its innovative approach to crisis intervention, its organizational features, and its knowledge and research base. Rich in actual examples drawn from family practice, this book will be of great interest to beginning students as well as practitioners in family and children's services. The book is also intended for those who are considering beginning their own Family Preservation Services to evaluate whether or not the approach will be a good fit for them, to become aware of some of the complexities of program design and training so that they can make informed decisions. When the book first appeared, Contemporary Psychology said that it "speaks for itself as a wonderful description of how to be of help to families in crisis."

The Children's Bureau Legacy

The Children's Bureau Legacy
Author: Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2013-04-01
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0160917220

Comprehensive history of the Children’s Bureau from 1912-2012 in eBook form that shares the legacy of this landmark agency that established the first Federal Government programs, research and social reform initiatives aimed to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children, youth and families. In addition to bios of agency heads and review of legislation and publications, this important book provides a critical look at the evolution of the Nation and its treatment of children as it covers often inspiring and sometimes heart-wrenching topics such as: child labor; the Orphan Trains, adoption and foster care; infant and maternal mortality and childhood diseases; parenting, infant and child care education; the role of women's clubs and reformers; child welfare standards; Aid to Dependent Children; Depression relief; children of migrants and minorities (African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans), including Indian Boarding Schools and Indian Adoption Program; disabled children care; children in wartime including support of military families and World War II refugee children; Juvenile delinquency; early childhood education Head Start; family planning; child abuse and neglect; natural disaster recovery; and much more. Child welfare and related professionals, legislators, educators, researchers and advocates, university school of social work faculty and staff, libraries, and others interested in social work related to children, youth and families, particularly topics such as preventing child abuse and neglect, foster care, and adoption will be interested in this comprehensive history of the Children's Bureau that has been funded by the U.S. Federal Government since 1912.

Parenting Matters

Parenting Matters
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 525
Release: 2016-11-21
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309388570

Decades of research have demonstrated that the parent-child dyad and the environment of the familyâ€"which includes all primary caregiversâ€"are at the foundation of children's well- being and healthy development. From birth, children are learning and rely on parents and the other caregivers in their lives to protect and care for them. The impact of parents may never be greater than during the earliest years of life, when a child's brain is rapidly developing and when nearly all of her or his experiences are created and shaped by parents and the family environment. Parents help children build and refine their knowledge and skills, charting a trajectory for their health and well-being during childhood and beyond. The experience of parenting also impacts parents themselves. For instance, parenting can enrich and give focus to parents' lives; generate stress or calm; and create any number of emotions, including feelings of happiness, sadness, fulfillment, and anger. Parenting of young children today takes place in the context of significant ongoing developments. These include: a rapidly growing body of science on early childhood, increases in funding for programs and services for families, changing demographics of the U.S. population, and greater diversity of family structure. Additionally, parenting is increasingly being shaped by technology and increased access to information about parenting. Parenting Matters identifies parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with positive developmental outcomes in children ages 0-8; universal/preventive and targeted strategies used in a variety of settings that have been effective with parents of young children and that support the identified knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and barriers to and facilitators for parents' use of practices that lead to healthy child outcomes as well as their participation in effective programs and services. This report makes recommendations directed at an array of stakeholders, for promoting the wide-scale adoption of effective programs and services for parents and on areas that warrant further research to inform policy and practice. It is meant to serve as a roadmap for the future of parenting policy, research, and practice in the United States.

Everyday Parenting

Everyday Parenting
Author: Thomas J. Dishion
Publisher:
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2011-09-01
Genre: Child rearing
ISBN: 9780878226580

This research-based program can be used while guiding individual family therapy, leading parent groups, and training counselors to work collaboratively with parents of children and adolescents. The session-based approach is divided into three areas of skills based on the concept of mindful parenting: supporting positive behavior, setting healthy limits, and building family relationships by helping parents change interaction patterns that occur daily in families and relationships. Includes a CD with over 50 printable handouts.

Balancing Family-centered Services and Child Well-being

Balancing Family-centered Services and Child Well-being
Author: Elaine Walton
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 404
Release: 2001
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780231112833

With contributions ranging from academic and professional theorists and policy developers to independent social workers, this book explores the development of family-centered services, the processes by which these services are implemented, the problems the field now faces, and prospects for the future. Multi-faceted examinations of the field show how family-centered services and child well-being can be linked on a daily basis to better the lives of both parents and children.

Evaluating Family Support

Evaluating Family Support
Author: Ilan Katz
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 366
Release: 2003-08-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0470864680

The delivery of effective family support is a key global child welfare issue, yet there is little consensus on what constitutes family support or what the best ways are to evaluate it. Evaluating Family Support: Thinking Internationally, Thinking Critically offers a full review of the conceptual and operational problems involved in this complex and topical field. Ilan Katz and John Pinkerton have brought together a team of experienced child care policy analysts and evaluators to present the current state of critical thinking alongside detailed international case studies. The chapters offer revealing glimpses into the nature of family support across the world, as well as an overview of the challenges facing both practitioners and researchers.

Handbook of Applied Developmental Science

Handbook of Applied Developmental Science
Author: Richard M. Lerner
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 2286
Release: 2003
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0761922784

The Handbook of Applied Developmental Science is the only work to comprehensively present the latest theory, research, and application from applied developmental science (ADS) and the positive psychology movement. It summarizes and synthesizes the best scientific knowledge from ADS to help readers understand the efforts being made around the world to ensure that all children and adolescents develop into healthy adults who contribute positively to society. The Handbook is also the first resource to organize and integrate both the prevention and promotion approaches to programs and policies for children, adolescents, and families. In addition, the Handbook provides a detailed road map for future research and for actions that will promote positive child, youth, and family development. Published in four volumes, the Handbook features 95 chapters by more than 150 contributors, many of who are renowned leaders in the field. Volume 1 describes the foundation of applied developmental science, its historical development, and current scientific and professional efforts to develop policies and programs that promote positive child, adolescent, and family development. Volume 2 examines public policy and government service systems. Volume 3 discusses community systems for enhancing citizenship and promoting a civil society. Finally, Volume 4 outlines methods for university engagement and academic outreach. Feature and Benefits - Four comprehensive, topical volumes - Approximately 2,200 pages - 95 chapters - More than 150 contributors, many of whom are world-renowned leaders in applied development science from the academic, professional, and policy and political arenas - Forewords for each volume written by well-known authorities, including Edward Zigler, co-founder of the Head Start program; US Congressman Elijah E Cummings; David Bell, International Youth Foundation; and Graham Spanier, President, The Pennsylvania State University Designed for a wide audience the Handbook will be an important addition to your library collection. It offers a single source for information about fostering generations of healthy children and families. It is designed specifically to meet the needs of: - Faculty and students in the fields of psychology, human development, family studies, policy studies, nursing, allied health, and education - Staff and volunteers working in non-governmental organizations - Members of local, state, national, and international government organizations and personnel involved in policy and program development and funding - Directors and staff at foundations that administer programs aimed at promoting positive your and family development