Describes the services provided by the Family Stress Consultation Team, an Illinois community-based consultation group which has an experimental, multidisciplinary approach to the handling of child abuse and neglect cases. (CM)

Defines the problem of child abuse, indicates problems of researching the phenomenon, and presents the thesis that the maltreatment of children is fundamentally a cultural problem. Proposes four hypotheses concerning the origins of child abuse and discusses the role of schools in prevention and treatment. (RH)

This paper describes Crisis Theory, which views certain life events as creating hazards for individual and family growth. Family therapists should sieze every opportunity to intervene during crisis periods and view these periods as transitional states, with opportunities for enhanced growth and functioning. (Author)

Many foster children feel overwhelmed. They feel abandoned, lost, rejected, or humiliated and experience loss of control over what is happening to them. The counselor must attempt to identify and reach out to the foster child, being careful not to get drawn into conflict between the foster and natural parents. (Author/PC)

Examines the dynamics, rooted in early trauma, behind the problem of violence committed by children against foster and adoptive parents. Highlights the painful and often hidden dilemmas experienced by such parents and the failure of many child and family practitioners to alert themselves to the problem. Calls for development of therapeutic…

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) norms based on 508 child custody litigations are presented. Defensive underreporting and self-favorability were often exhibited along with an elevation on the Over-Controlled Hostility Scale. Results highlight the importance of context specificity in personality assessment. (SLD)

Gives an overview and the most important research results of a home-based approach for children with behavior problems. The program advocates parental assistance so that parents can meet their child-rearing responsibilities. Case studies and process-outcome research corroborates the importance of encouraging and validating parents. (RJM)

Gave Parental Bonding Inventories (PBI) to 173 males and analyzed scores based on the participants' familial risk for alcoholism. Results indicate that fathers of the high familial risk participants were rated by sons as being significantly less caring than the fathers of low familial risk participants. Other findings are reported. (RJM)

Reviews research on mothers of children sexually abused within the family. Reports that these mothers are not necessarily more disturbed psychologically than mothers of nonabused children. Most mothers did believe that their children had been abused, thus challenging the persisting explanation of collusion in clinical practice. A broader concept…

Reports the findings from a study of factors related to negative interactions between elderly care-receivers, recently discharged from a hospital stay, and family caregivers. Respondents were 41 patients ages 56-90. Feeling like a "thing" instead of a "person" was significantly associated with higher levels of conflict, and the…

Used national longitudinal data to examine parent-child relationships before and after divorce. Parental reports of relationship problems with children were significantly elevated as early as 12 years prior to divorce. Findings suggest that the quality of the parents' marriage has both direct and indirect long-term consequences for parent-child…

Research on working poor families participating in an anti-poverty initiative in Milwaukee found 60% of families had at least one child with significant problems (learning, school achievement and/or behavior, retardation, or other disabilities). Comparison with other families with children with troubles found the program families adapted less…

Depression among 148 Latina women who have children with mental retardation was examined. Results showed that their depressive symptomatology was elevated, with almost half reporting excessive negative experiences. Family problems, health problems, and negative feelings about parenting their child with mental retardation were factors contributing…

Examines the uniformity myth surrounding adult children of alcoholics by exploring differences among nonclinical college females with alcoholic fathers, alcoholic mothers, and no alcoholic parents. Results indicate no group differences in eating-disorder symptomatology. Differences were found in terms of distress arising from interpersonal…

Examines an attachment theory perspective for conceptualizing adult-child/older-parent issues by introducing the basic constructs of attachment theory. Demonstrates how the theory can be applied to counseling issues and to adult children's struggles with older parent issues. Explores the continuation of the attachment bond and provides a case…