This paper wants to study in deep one of the existing services to help and to improve the parent-son's relation: the "child contact centre". This centre is a place where children can meet their parents after different family problems, from parental conflicts until violence and abuses. It's very important that each child could have the…

Parental separation not only impacts on family relationships, it also has implications for a child's school life and opportunity to learn. However, there is little understanding of how children of separated parents navigate the relationship between home and school. This paper reports findings from discussions with education professionals in…

Purpose: The study investigated whether sibling relationships influenced the outcomes of a sample of adoptive placements in England and Wales that had broken down postorder or were in crisis. Method: The study used secondary analysis drawing on in-depth interviews with 41 families who had experienced an adoption disruption and 42 families who…

This article briefly outlines the neglect of families within previous UK policy documents relating to drugs and alcohol, and discusses the significant progress that has been made in focusing on the family over the past decade. Although substance misuse causes major problems for many family members, this was not even recognized across the Western…

The Family Health Scale is an instrument designed to quantify the quality of psychiatrically labeled or nonlabeled family functioning from the perspective of an external clinical observer. Clinical judgment is exercised in rating, based on information available and ideally from a valid standardized method of direct observation. Discusses…

Describes model of crisis intervention to families of adolescents who deliberately harm themselves and summarizes premises which guide practice. Views adolescent's "overdose" as attempt to resolve relationship conflicts and works to explore predicament for adolescent and family. Verbatim extracts from one session illustrate the process.…

Therapy for one 5 1/2-year-old boy combined psychodynamic and behavioral elements and resulted in positive changes in the child, his parents, and his grandmother. Changes were maintained for as long as three years. (The relevance of inhibited aggression in family members is discussed.) (RH)

Compares the results of two surveys of adolescents' views on the quality of family life in five European countries. Results showed a positive view of the family for a large majority of the respondents. (JDH)

This article describes an intervention designed to reduce the guilt of parents, experiencing marital difficulties, who had a child with profound physical and intellectual deficits. Following a formal assessment of their daughter, the emotional climate of the marriage was much improved and they felt more able to cope. (Contains references.) (CR)

Studied a rare condition, elective mutism in children. Results indicated (1) immature development, especially in speech; (2) high rates of behavior problems; (3) excessive shyness; (4) significantly greater incidence of lower range performance IQ; (5) family psychiatric problems; and (6) intractibility. (Author/DB)

Examines policies and processes hindering homeless children's access to appropriate educational provision in the United Kingdom, painting a stark, depressing picture. Case-study research reveals the fruitlessness of blaming homeless children's poor school performance on family inadequacies. From a social-reaction perspective, the education system…

Considers nature and extent of child abuse by examining the cultural context within which abuse takes place; the different forms of abuse and effects on the family; the extent of the problem, particularly among different social classes; and the role of the teacher. (DST)

The purpose of the international symposium on Violence Toward Children was to lay foundations, identify priorities and put forward guidelines for further research and action designed to reduce the level and frequency of violent acts perpetrated on children. This document presents an edited account of the major questions addressed. The main thesis…

Asserts that increasing inter-agency conflict is detrimental to needs of children and families. Presents example of one agency (Educational Psychology Service), suggesting that its pressures are common to all agencies and that recent policies conspire to enhance the power of systems rather than of children and families. Discusses effective…

Examines relationship between family support and health of children. Reviews the impact of the decline in structural support for child rearing, examines the health effects of support provided in home visitation programs, and considers the health and welfare effects of the provision of day care services for children. Emphasizes results of…