The study, with 54 mothers and 54 fathers, found parents of children with disabilities reported more caregiving requirements and stress in all domains. Significant differences between mothers and fathers were found with mothers generally reporting more stress than fathers. Stress was negatively associated with amount of informal support for…

A counselor describes feelings and attitudes of two young adults who see their marital problems as having begun with the birth of their severely disabled child. Counseling led to improved communication, better coping, and shared planning for the future. (DB)

Analyzed rates of birth, divorce, marriage, and unemployment in Canada and United States in comparison to rates of suicide from 1950 to 1985. Found no association between marriage and suicide in Canada, in U.S. marriage had protective effect. Divorce rates were associated positively and birth rates associated negatively with suicide in both…

Notes that foster family care has been reaffirmed as most appropriate, least restrictive option for most children and youth who are unable to live with their families and that foster homes serve as hub of network of developmental and therapeutic connections for children. Contends that foster families increasingly perform roles that assist family…

Explores the situations of "missing" children and discusses sources of information about these children. More than 99% of all missing child cases reported to police in 1996 were successfully resolved, but data suggest that about 150,000 children each year are hurt physically or mentally during the time they are missing. (SLD)

Runaway behavior is presented from the point of view of 26 teenagers in a rural New England shelter. Reasons for running include seeking freedom from abusive treatment, and a search for connection. Running was found to be a "last resort" behavior. Many youths expressed the desire for reconciliation. (Author/EMK)

Defines traumatic brain injury (TBI) as an acquired injury to the head that results in long-term and often permanent physical and emotional disturbances that often has catastrophic impacts on families. Reviews six research articles regarding implications for both therapists and researchers working with TBI families. (Author/MKA)

This study assessed the role of religion in the coping of 45 parents of children with autism. All parents completed a questionnaire and 21 parents were interviewed. Positive religious coping was associated with better religious outcome and greater stress-related growth, whereas negative religious coping was associated with greater depressive…

While adoption remains the most permanent of alternate homes for displaced children, it is not always a realistic alternative. Legal guardianship provides a permanency option between adoption and long-term foster care. This article contrasts permanency alternatives, gives an overview of legal guardianship, and provides definitional and historical…

Objective: To examine the association of psychiatric symptoms with migraine and tension-type headache in children. Method: A questionnaire completed by 1,135 Finnish children in the sixth grade identified 154 children with migraine, 138 with tension-type headache, and 407 children who were headache-free. Seventy children were randomly selected…

Family patterns of dysfunction that often reinforce maladaptive behaviors and cognitions of children growing up in an alcoholic home environment are often difficult to overcome. Adjustment issues associated with being an adult child of an alcoholic (ACOA) are presented along with factors that have been identified as being important in developing…

The main aim of this article is to explore the association between mental health problems in children placed out-of-home and family risk factors reported as reasons for placement. The sample consisted of 109 Norwegian children aged 6-12 years. Mental health problems were assessed by the Revised Rutter scales reported by the parents and the…

This document presents witness' testimonies and supplemental materials from the congressional hearing called to examine the issue of automotive safety. In her opening statement, Chairwoman Patricia Schroeder briefly reviews statistics on traffic accidents and identifies the two major issues to be addressed in the hearing: failure to act by the…

The size of the runaway and throwaway population is alarming. Two primary reasons explain why programs for adolescent runaways have failed and each one is embedded historically in American culture. The first is that strict discipline and reform have been seen throughout history as the most appropriate manner by which to control youth. The second…

This report discusses the Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1991. Section I provides background information on child abuse, family violence, and adoption opportunities, and addresses the need for reauthorization legislation. Section II provides a list of witnesses from relevant hearings, and briefly describes the…