Examines what constitutes a family and considers the variety of family forms, including the dual career, single parent and childless family, and their dealings with societal institutions and agencies. Comments on the strengths and weaknesses of each of six different family forms. (BR)

Reviews existing studies on motherless families in four English-speaking industralized countries: Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States. (BR)

A report on social change and improved care for the unmarried adolescent mother, affected in large part by the Consortium on Early Childbearing and Childrearing. (GB)

Reports on a study of single-parent fathers who are rearing their young children after marital separation. Discusses what fathers do for and with their children and how being a single parent affects work responsibilities and lifestyle. (BR)

Describes an organization which provides services and education for single mothers in Australia. (ST)

Examines the early maturity of children in single-parent households: its evolution, its forms, and some of its short- and long-term effects. (Author/CM)

Reports knowledge gained through providing parenting support services to 80 mentally retarded mothers (10 percent of whom were single parents). Characteristics of some mentally retarded mothers are indicated and effective interventions are described. (Author/RH)

Considers four areas requiring attention in any attempt to evaluate the needs of children in families involved in divorce actions: economic problems and child support; custody issues and court involvement; emotional problems and therapeutic intervention; and kinship patterns in "step" relationships and the reconstituted family. (BR)

Formal adoption in the Black community is not readily accepted, perhaps because the social services system is insensitive to Black culture. Informal adoption by relatives with extended family support is prevalent and reflects the Black self-help tradition. But such adoption can perpetuate the cycle of dependency and poverty. (SH)

This article attempts to provide a factual, historical perspective on the current family situation of American children. Demographic statistics from recent decades are given which show trends toward small family size, nuclear families, one-parent families, and a higher level of education among parents. (MS)

Describes an all-day, everyday kindergarten program in Minnesota. Offers opinions of parents and teachers, who express both support and opposition for the program. Discusses benefits relating to preparation for grades one, two, and three. Advises other school districts to institute all-day, everyday kindergarten programs. (SH)

Examines the concept of boundaries--drawing of emotional lines between family subsystems, and between "family" and the outside world--in assessment and intervention with single parent families. Argues that clear, flexible boundaries are needed for healthy family functioning; that coalitions, rigid or unclear boundaries, and triangulation…

Parents spend increasingly less time with their children because of the pressures of dual careers and single parenthood. Economic pressures and social values have affected sharing of family time. Studies show both parents and children consider spending time together the most important element in improving family life. (BC)

Describes social, economic, and demographic trends affecting children and families. Discusses how patterns of marriage, childbearing, divorce, remarriage, and mothers' employment in the paid labor force influence the lives of children. (SO)