This paper describes the Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) Program and points out its specific implications for foster parents. The role of a foster parent is extremely difficult, and there is a need for training foster parents to become more effective which, in turn, will have positive effects upon foster children. The PET program, developed in…

Runaway children and youth in Canada is the focus of an analysis and review of the literature which explores the following dimensions of the problem: history, prevalence, legislation, socio-psychological explanations, reasons for leaving home, runaway profile, and types of community services needed. (JW)

Methodological flaws have spoiled the literature that attempts to link maltreatment to juvenile delinquency. This article presents improved definitions and measuring procedures for maltreatment and delinquency. The empirical findings show that certain types of child abuse and neglect are related to delinquency but that other types of maltreatment…

Research suggests it is possible for a child's school-based problem to have some sort of functional role in the family system, but serious work is needed to understand how it happens. Three cases are described. (MT)

Attempts to identify some of the factors of child abuse and suggests these solutions to the problems. Citizens must be educated about the abuse problem and motivated to help stamp out the disease. Programs should be developed to teach Black parents how to parent and find alternative ways of expressing anger. (Author/BEF)

Sex of the absent parent was correlated with the type behavior manifested; absence of the father with "acting-out" and absence of the mother with "acting-in" behavior. The propensity of children of absent fathers to "act-out" and of absent mothers to "act-in" was related to whether children were aware of their parents' incarceration. (Author)

The second of two articles examining dysfunctional parental attitudes that contribute to school learning and behavior disorders presents case material illustrating the attitudinal problems and effects on children. The psychoeducational therapist is often included in family sessions as his/her experience with learning problems aids in the…

Dr. Patterson is interviewed regarding his theories of social learning and research on the effective treatment of aggressive children and their families. (JMF)

Presents theoretical perspective on sibling conflict in a single-parent family and a treatment plan. Visual analysis and interrupted time-series analysis were used to test changes during treatment. Sibling conflict was reduced over a ten-week period. Statistical and anecdotal results are presented. (Author/BEF)

Young adolescents (N=178) reported their perceptions of interparental conflict, while their mothers and fathers completed a self-report measure of their conflict. Results indicated that both parental report (particularly maternal) and adolescent perception of interparental conflict were significantly related to teacher assessment of adolescent…

Evaluated six-week support group for six preadolescent siblings of children with mental or physical handicaps. Comparison with five nonparticipants revealed that group had significant effect on participants' perceptions of social support. Parents indicated some improvements in participants' behavior toward siblings. Found no significant…

There has been increased interest in family systems approaches to the treatment of children's behavior problems. A study was conducted to compare children's behavior patterns in clinical and nonclinical intact families and to explore the relationship between family functioning and boys' behavior patterns. Subjects consisted of 16 clinic families…

Reported were two experiments which investigated, respectively, the maintenance of appropriate classroom behavior in children with behavior problems following treatment in an experimental classroom and cross situational consistency and generalization of treatment effects. In the first experiment followup performances of two groups of five subjects…

Investigated the problem behaviors of a group of abused children and examined parental reports of behavioral strengths and weaknesses. The results showed that abused children displayed more behavior problems and fewer social competencies than normals. Behavior patterns of abused children closely resembled those shown by children from distressed…

Research on working poor families participating in an anti-poverty initiative in Milwaukee found 60% of families had at least one child with significant problems (learning, school achievement and/or behavior, retardation, or other disabilities). Comparison with other families with children with troubles found the program families adapted less…