Parents from families referred by a social service department completed a questionnaire measuring ego differentiation among family members and provided information from which a genogram of families' multigenerational relationship systems was constructed. Results indicated that families had lower levels of differentiation than a nonclinical norm…

Presents staff tools for dealing with upset campers whose parents are divorced or separating, such as acknowledging and listening. Gives tips and sample legal language on how to determine marital status and parenting arrangements; whom to call with questions; and which parent can enroll, visit, authorize medical treatment for, and pay the bill for…

Analysis of data from 409 substantiated child abuse/neglect cases involving Hispanic caretakers found 7 of 19 indicators correctly predicted both allegations and substantiations of re-abuse/re-neglect. These indicators included prior abuse/neglect history of family, number of victims, primary caretaker abused as child, poor neglect/abuse history…

This study examines factors in clinicians' concerns about treating and reporting child abuse and neglect by analyzing records of 5,446 pediatric hospitalizations. Age of child, income level, and single-parent families were significant factors; however, ethnicity was not. Practitioners noted concern about abuse in 2.5% of the sample, neglect in…

A survey of 190 families caring for people with mental retardation in North Wales addressed caregivers' assessments of unmet needs, particularly respite care needs; the relation between management of dependency and unmet needs; characteristics of families expressing the greatest need for respite care; and implications for policy and practice.…

When closely examining America's children, we see that even basic needs for care, shelter, food, and love are going unmet for millions. Family, society, and school are failing children barraged with conflicting consumer messages. The restoration of childhood demands creation of enlightened social policy and child-friendly islands of decency.…

Describes transitions that farm families and students face and a strategy for school counselors when a student's problem is understood to be related to the family's transition as a result of the agriculture crisis. Summarizes transitions for adults and views students' school problems as behavioral metaphors for their parents' problems. (NB)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether intensive tutoring of language-deficient preschool children could improve their language skills. Unexpected differences between the experimental and control groups were found. Differences may have resulted from lack of familial support for the program. (PCB)

Based on a path analytic model, examines how chronic career indecision may develop as a result of growing up in an alcohol-related dysfunctional family. Concludes that, to improve the effectiveness of career counseling, more attention must be paid to differential diagnosis and appropriate intervention plans for clients. (ABL)

A study of 30 mothers with mentally retarded children and 30 with only nonretarded children found no overall group differences in maternal well-being. Child welfare issues and restrictive time demands were the most intense family problems reported by mothers with retarded children. (Author/JDD)

The parents of an eight-year-old with spina bifida turned to a family counselor for help with the stress caused by financial problems. Improved communication helped the husband and wife to better understand and appreciate each other and work together to deal with the continuing uncertainty of their daughter's medical problems. (JDD)

The study found greater stress for 57 parents of children with autism than for 60 parents of Down Syndrome children and 121 parents of normal children. Mothers demonstrated greater depressive symptoms than mothers of average children. Social support lessened the impact of parenting stress, suggesting the need for more counseling and support…

Examined service needs from the perspective of the caregiver and the elder and explored the variables relative to how the caregiving families (N=54) function as a unit. Discusses patterns of use and need for social services by family caregivers in multigenerational households which have impact on social work practice. (Author/ABL)

Presents succinct summaries of the concept of conflict and the unique developmental issues of adolescents whose parents are divorcing. Provides counselors with a five-step conflict resolution model suitable for the adolescent with divorced parents. (NB)

Comparison of family functioning in 103 neglectful and 102 nonneglectful low-income families found that neglectful mothers reported their families as having more family conflict and less expression of feelings, but not less cohesiveness. Observational measures indicated neglectful families were less organized, more chaotic, and less verbally…