While mental and physical handicaps directly affect many children, a more subtle secondary condition often occurs within the families of handicapped children--parentalplegia. Suggests ways to remediate these effects through the use of educational and affective strategies, and suggests a holistic approach to working with the handicapped. (Author)

As subsystems within the stepfamily structure compete for limited resources, conflicts arise among subsystems and within subsystems among persons with membership in different subunits. Stepfamilies can become more unified through recognition of prior loyalties, negotiations to resolve conflicts, and techniques to redefine the boundaries between…

Explains five functions a school can serve in a child abuse and child neglect cases. Notes other sources of help for abused children not yet of school age, such as play groups, family shelters, and crisis nurseries. Explains the flaws in various past methods of treating child abuse. (SB)

Investigated district and site administrators' perceptions of school violence and violence-prevention programs in 15 school districts in 12 states. Unanimously agreed-upon causes were lack of family involvement or supervision, lack of family structure, and parental use of violence. Describes a prevention model stressing family inclusion, values…

Emphasizes the need for radical improvement in agencies' response to domestic violence, based on a general raising of sensitivity and awareness at both worker and agency level. Suggests an emphasis on safety planning with women's services as well as child care and child protection agencies, and the promotion of positive and healing work with…

Examined the relationships between parental stress and the security of attachment relationships. Subjects were 33 mothers of children who were attending a preschool program for high-risk families. Found a negative relationship between the Child Domain section of the Parenting Stress Index and Attachment Q-set scores. Results highlighted the need…

A survey of 120 families of children with emotional or behavioral disorders found they received more needed support from formal organizations and paid professionals than from informal organizations and unpaid individuals. However, family members were reported as the most helpful for coping with daily challenges. Parents receiving more support…

This study examined the impact on 44 families of children who had suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) within the past month. It found that families experienced significantly more injury-related stress and higher levels of psychological symptoms than 52 families of children with moderate TBI and 69 families of children with orthopedic…

The role of family relational problems in the assessment and treatment of psychopathology in children, including the relationship between family and individual disorders, is considered. The study of family relational problems is placed in historical and theoretical contexts and in relationship to assessment issues. Current diagnosis and…

This article outlines the elements that were included in a study that measured the cost of providing informal care to children (ages 4-10) with autism. The application of the instrument in a study of 15 families offers tentative evidence on the parental economic burden and the costs of informal care. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

A study involving 41 families investigated child and family characteristics associated with stable behavior problems in preschoolers. Results indicated that, at preschool age, children with stable behavior problems had mothers who used more controlling child-rearing practices and had parents who used more aggressive tactics during conflicts with…

Explored application of mediation approach to resolution of intrafamily disputes between parents and adolescents as a means of preventing child maltreatment. About 90 percent of 50 participating families were able to reach a mediation agreement, and 80 percent of these agreements were adhered to after 2 months. Results indicated considerable…

This study found that, although the mental representations of 20 sexually abused and 20 physically abused females (ages 7-12) did not differ, the internal images of the abused groups differed from images of 20 nonabused but distressed children. Thus it is abuse, and not simply family distress, that results in impaired object relations. (Author/JDD)

Examined the relationship between fathers' parental stress and their perceived sense of competence in parenting roles. Regression analyses of data from 94 fathers suggest that fathers' depression in their parental role and perceptions of their children's demandingness are the best predictors of their perceived parental competence. (Author/TE)

Evaluates five themes of the race debate in education and social work: identity, assimilation, compensatory provisions, pathology, and integration/cultural pluralism. Outlines a broad approach to multi-cultural, anti-racist child practice. (Author/BB)