The author presents several factors which pertain to state involvement in family life. Among these factors are social diversity, social agency usurpation of family roles, the need for parent and family involvement in child rearing, conducting needs assessment, conducting hearings prior to policy decisions, and making social services relevant. (DB)

Examines the view that individual pathologies and problems are manifestations of family dysfunctions. The interdependence of family members is the critical element in the family group therapy process. Intervention involves the disruption of the dynamic balance maintained by the family system. (RC)

The study determined the effects of Structured Learning Therapy (SLT) in treating 60 Puerto Rican fathers who had exhibited family aggression. The validity of using a short-term therapy program such as SLT to counteract a longstanding cultural tradition was questioned. (SB)

Quantitative and qualitative measures from 19 parents and 19 siblings of children with learning disabilities showed that family functioning and self-concepts of siblings were comparable to those in families of nondisabled children but parents experienced greater stress than did parents of nondisabled children. Families also experienced…

Describes a rite-of-passage approach to the treatment of addicted African American women drawn from traditional African culture. Claims that the best way to work with families to recover sobriety and cultural knowledge is through value orientations drawn from African wisdom. (MOK)

This article describes common experiences of families following a child's brain injury, and offers specific strategies that might help families through the recovery/reentry process. These include education, family support and advocacy, family counseling, and home-school consultation. (DB)

Most gang membership research studies males; few examine the etiology of female gang membership. Presents themes of female gang membership gathered from interviews with 15 young women. Examines demographic material, family structure, initiation rites, and criminal behaviors. Explores implications for social work practice and research. (FC)

Discusses the assessment of the impact of parent involvement in the Head Start Family Impact Project. This project was undertaken with cooperation from the Parents in Community Action (PICA) component of the Hennepin County, Minnesota, Head Start Program. (BB)

This study assessed attitudes of parents in 48 families with young children having special needs concerning: (1) social support, (2) family satisfaction, and (3) impact of the special child on the family. Significant differences were found between mothers' and fathers' responses on subscales concerned with time demands, coping, and well-being.…

Examined 10 measures of personality, self-image, and emotional and family problems in 2,158 Australian adolescents, some of whom had suffered parental loss. Data revealed pattern of poorer adjustment in adolescents who had lost a parent but clearly demonstrated that type of loss and family reconstitution had no differential effects on psychosocial…

A half-time Student Assistance Program (SAP) was designed and implemented for two semesters in an urban high school in New Jersey. Findings indicated that proportion of students who used SAP increased with time, male participants outnumbered females, and alcohol and drug issues were most frequently cited as presenting problems for both males and…

Assessed association between interspousal aggression and child problems after controlling for parents' general marital discord among 87 couples requesting marital therapy. Spouses completed measures of marital aggression, marital discord, child problems, and family demographics. Results showed that marital aggression contributed unique variance to…

Family responses to family-school conflicts may be manifested in family interaction and/or work performance and are influenced by numerous factors including socioeconomic status, child's grade level, family structure, cultural background, financial or structural stress, and rigidity of functioning. (Author/PB)

Interviewed a national panel of 1,668 married women and men in 1980 and 1983 to assess effects of shift work on 6 measures of marital quality (marital happiness, interaction, disagreements, general problems, sexual problems, and child-related problems) and probability of divorce. Results suggested that shift work has a modest but general adverse…

Presents Edna Bonacich's views on the social costs of Korean immigrant entrepreneurship in Los Angeles (California), for both the immigrants and society. Discusses the inadequacies of her arguments concerning these negative consequences. Considers the policy implications of Bonacich's interpretation for immigrants. (JS)