Examines the Marriage Contract Game which can improve the skills of distressed couples and refocus their attention away from their children and toward their own marriages. Subjects were four distressed couples. Results showed that game play improved couple's problem-solving and positive feeling statements in home discussions of problems. (BH)

State laws pertaining to truants, runaways, and other "status offenders"--as distinguished from delinquents who have committed crimes--are discussed. Characteristics of these youths and their families are noted. Shortcomings of existing programs for them and the need for educational alternatives are pointed out. (PP)

Since 1985 the Southeast Regional Troubled Children's Committee (SERTCC) has formed local committees and promoted interagency collaboration to serve troubled children and their families in 24 counties in southeast Georgia. SERTCC provides intensive family-based services within the homes of dysfunctional families for 12 weeks, with the goal of…

This paper describes the application of a systems approach model to assessing families with a labeled noncompliant child. The first section describes and comments on the applied methodology for the model. The second section describes the classification of 61 families containing a child labeled by the family as noncompliant. An analysis of data…

This paper addresses the problems of intervention in families with retarded or abused children, focusing on educational interventions aimed at increasing parenting skills. Clinical activities and research findings of the Project for Developmental Disabilities at UCLA are cited to illustrate several problems and to suggest potential solutions. A…

This report proposes a restructuring of the statutory framework for dealing with PINS (persons in need of supervision) defined as children under 16 whom the court has determined to be incorrigible, ungovernable or habitually disobedient and beyond the lawful control of parents or other lawful authority. The proposal, as described in the…