HOMEBUILDERS, a home-based crisis intervention model, is described. The core beliefs of the program are listed; therapists' availability and caseloads are discussed; and reasons for limiting intervention to a four-week period are indicated. (BC)

Parental stress and family dysfunction were examined in 55 families with and 55 families without young children with developmental disabilities. Although families of disabled children showed higher levels of stress, they were only minimally different from control families in their family functioning, indicating high degrees of resiliency.…

Argues that African Americans should join other groups in developing a national family policy that will assist all families. Considers the unique needs of the African American family, and the possible counterproductive effects of singling out their problems to address nationally. Discusses attitudes toward family policy. (JS)

Results give considerable support to the hypothesis that most of the relation between marital conflict and adolescent adjustment problems can be explained by perturbations in the parent-child relationship. Results also suggest that mediational patterns are different for intact and divorced families, and that the model used best fits the context of…

Fifteen families seeking family counseling after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) were monitored over a two-year period. Findings indicated decreased distress for both individuals with TBI and their caretakers, reduced burdens carried by family members, reduced conflict, and increased family cohesion and adjustment. However, reported anger levels,…

Examines how the coexisting risk factors of sexual abuse and parental substance use contribute to psychopathology in women. Results indicate that depression, trauma symptoms, antisocial behaviors, and suicidal behaviors are related to childhood experiences of sexual and physical abuse. The need for future research to examine multiple childhood…

A junior high school teacher shares the story of a childhood dominated by poverty, family alcoholism, sexual and physical victimization, and haphazard school attendance. Surviving these traumatic experiences (and a teen pregnancy) was not easy. This teacher's background enables her to unearth covering-up strategies used by children trying to…

Summarizes lessons learned by the child welfare system in dealing with HIV/AIDS: extended families want to care for their own; family placements are preferable; secrecy exacerbates stigma and isolation; adolescent needs must be considered; focus on living with HIV; HIV affects total family; service provision must be culturally sensitive,…

This lecture, originally given in 1990, begins by recalling the violence committed by the Nazi state and then examines current psychological attitudes which accept and even approve of violence against children in institutions, especially delinquents, severely handicapped children, and infants; and violence within the family. (DB)

A study examined the educational performance of 56 children (ages 6-15) receiving services from an urban child care service agency that emphasized family preservation and reunification. Although the majority of participants were performing poorly in math, reading, and science, no relationships were found between school performance and family…

Compares learning achievement, social adjustment, and family conflict among 146 Bedouin-Arab students from polygamous and monogamous families. Reveals that children from monogamous families had higher levels of learning achievement, and they adjusted better to the school framework. The mean conflict rating was higher for children from polygamous…

Notes that two roles teachers assume that often cause tension and hard feelings are those of family therapist and parent expert. Discusses how teachers share in children's development, how to recognize emotional or difficult situations with parents, and how teachers can help parents find the help they need without adopting those helping roles…

Employed an experimental research design in evaluating intensive family preservation services to reunify families after out-of-home placement. Found significant difference between the treatment group and control group in terms of family reunification, and mixed findings in terms of family functioning. Discusses research design with implications…

A father tells about his son with autism, who is now 26 years old, and describes how his son differs from the portrait of autism presented by professionals. The lessons he learned from his son and how his son helped him to become a more loving person are discussed. (Author/CR)

Describes the work of Help for Abused Women and Children (HAWC) in Massachusetts. Programs and activities for abused adults and teens include a crisis hotline, shelter, advocacy, support groups, legal advocacy, community trainings, workshops, counseling, and a prevention curriculum. An adventure workshop is used to address self-esteem, trust, risk…