Psychological maltreatment (PM) is a widespread form of child maltreatment, both in high-risk and maltreating parents, yet there are no intervention programs that target it directly. In this study, the content of parenting programs for high-risk and maltreating parents was assessed to determine whether the program manuals include content on PM.…

Although existing family preservation program research has focused on identifying the components of effective treatment, we remain far from fully developing empirically supported interventions (Barth, Chamberlain, Reid, Rolls, Hurlburt, Farmer, James, McCabe, & Kohl, 2005; Dufour, Chamberland, & Trocme, 2003). The current longitudinal study…

Reviews the literature on the importance of foster children's connections to their biological families. Involvement of the placed child's biological family in all stages of the placement experience creates new forms of practice throughout the foster care system. Describes the use of group training for biological parents soon after placement and…

Reports on a parent group model available to parents, whether or not their children live at home or in a treatment complex for disturbed adolescents. The group, led by professional leaders, focuses on the needs of the parents rather than those of the child; it is not a replacement for family therapy. Parents provide mutual support for each other.…

The use of contracts between parents and youths, specifying in detail the responsibilities and rewards for changes in behavior was shown effective in improving family relations and in reducing recidivism in juvenile offenders. (MS)

Describes a center which has a program of group therapy for parents in families where patterns of child abuse were developing and also offers full daytime care for their children. (NH)

Outlines the difficulties parents face in the first year after childbirth and describes a postpartum intervention program. Obstacles faced by the program due to cultural prohibitions against acknowledging parental ambivalence to a newborn child are also discussed. (Author/DB)

An effective model for training foster parents, developed jointly by an early childhood program and a foster care agency, is briefly discussed. (Author/SE)

This article is a 20-year evaluation of the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) of Child and Family Services in Western Manitoba. Following Levenstein's (1979, 1988) approach, home visitors model parent-child interchanges using books and toys to enhance children's cognitive development through appropriate parenting behaviors. The evaluation provides…

Special skills are required for foster parenting adequate to the needs of today's foster children. This paper describes how one agency planned and implemented the first components of a comprehensive, long-range program of foster parent education. (SDH)

A treatment and enrichment program for emotionally disturbed children based on the concept of bonding is described. The program, Developmental Play, is discussed as a model for training parents and child care workers. (SE)

Describes the Merrifield Program of the Worcester Children's Friend Society which was designed to meet the needs of a small number of emotionally disturbed, school-age children untreatable while living in their own homes. (Author/MB)

Describes a residential care program for children that involves parents in the role of treatment partners in making assessment, treatment, and discharge decisions for their children. (CM)

A 2-year-old residential program in which families of abusive and/or neglectful parents live with their preschool children in a supervised environment is described as being an effective way for returning youngsters to their own homes. (Author/MP)