This book provides an accessible introduction to laws that affect children and families, and the dominant public debates that surround and drive these laws. Using real-world examples, the book exposes the tension between reliance on the private, autonomous family and the public's desire to secure child wellbeing. A look at some public systems,…

In the past two decades, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of homeless students enrolled in US schools. This report explores collaborative efforts of schools and social service agencies working with homeless children and families. The project's goals were to identify frequently encountered barriers and successful strategies to overcome…

Families are the principal influence on development in the first years of life, so the mental health of parents is an issue that affects every child in California. The most common mental health concerns facing parents involve stress and anxiety. These needs can be addressed through public health messages that de-stigmatize mental illness and…

The study examined the consequences of delay in enrollment in subsidized child care and the impact of funding on the choices and perceived opportunities of families once they begin receiving child care subsidies. Subjects were 106 working families in Philadelphia who are either using subsidized child care or who are waiting to enroll in the…

At the time of its enactment, liberal groups passionately denounced the welfare reform legislation, predicting that it would result in substantial increases in poverty, hunger, and other social ills. Contrary to these alarming forecasts, welfare reform has been effective in meeting each of its goals. Data from various sources show that overall…

Several recent reports have examined the needs of families with substance abuse problems in the child welfare system, and documented the barriers to obtaining social services. This report aims to inform substance abuse agencies in depth about the changes in child welfare laws and practices that affect substance abuse agencies policies and…

This document reports on two studies by the Bridges to Inclusion project concerning issues surrounding runaway and/or homeless youth with disabilities. The first study surveyed emergency adolescent shelter providers funded by the Family and Youth Service Bureau. Findings addressed types of disabilities frequently identified or suspected in…

This monograph considers the work of Enda-Tiers Monde, an international nongovernmental organization (NGO) based in Dakar, Senegal, which has many facets: street schools for working children, art and music shows for marginalized youth, town planning programs, income generation activities for prisoners, and drugs and AIDS prevention campaigns. The…

This document consists of four separately-published fact sheets providing information, derived from U.S. government sources, about the condition of Hispanics in the United States. The first, "Hispanic Children, Poverty, and Federal Assistance Programs," describes the status of Hispanic American children and the federal programs designed…

In a keynote address to the New York State Federation of Workers for the Blind the author discusses ethical and political aspects of the long-term, equitable dissemination of social and health services. (MC)

Assesses opportunities and problems of a number of integrated social service programs housed in public schools throughout the nation. (Author/JH)

Describes community service model which focuses upon the causes of problems rather than upon results. The model proposes intervention before crisis by means of an ongoing program for the prevention of future social dysfunctioning. The primary technique employed in prevention is consultation with parents in the setting of the community. (Author/CJ)

Five activities are proposed for a federal evaluation agenda for the 1980s: (1) measuring net impact of social program cost containment; (2) implementing and evaluating new social experiments; (3) examining appropriateness of current social programs; (4) testing alternatives to established programs; and (5) developing procedures to ensure…