Explores the concept of rituals and presents six elements of rituals. Teaching parents how to develop simple family rituals can assist with issues and positively impact children's lives. Within the sacred space of rituals, families form deeper bonds and children develop lasting images of their parents' love. (Author/JDM)

Reviews children's books that emphasize the strengthening of family ties. Characters in the books realize the importance and influence of family relationships as they struggle with sibling rivalry, self-discovery, peer relationships, a search for heritage, adoption, and death. (SM)

Results are presented of an intensive search of U.S. newspapers and periodicals on the joint custody of children after divorce, where both parents have continued responsibility for parenting and where the children spend part of each week, month, or year with both of the parents. Areas of concern addressed by these materials include the following:…

Presents the "Strengths of Black Families" of R. B. Hill (1972) as a paradigm for understanding family behavior. Introduces the practice approach to these strengths in the work of E. Hall and G. King (1982) that is effective for developing family intervention strategies related to social and economic problems. (SLD)

Family stress theory as a framework for family policy and family impact analysis is compatible with, and a logical development within, a broader ecological context of immediate and wider social environments. The central assumption of the family stress framework is that families have the capacity to organize a variety of supports--economic, social,…

Recent research with first year college students indicated that emotional closeness to parents was associated with social and intellectual competence during the leaving home period. Secure parental attachment fostered self-confidence, willingness to explore the environment, and the development of social skills. Students describing themselves as…