The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. This issue of "The Link" contains the following articles: (1) Improving System…

This report, in French- and English-language versions, synthesizes the policy laid down in the "Think and Act Family" guide, which Quebec's Conseil de la Famille made public in 1989. The report is intended for those who work with families in any function, such as a volunteer, a professional, or an administrator; it emphasizes that a…

The Down East Partnership for Children (DEPC) was established in 1993 to bring together health, education, and social service agencies to address the needs of children and families in two eastern North Carolina counties. As the staff grew from 2 to 20 and communication within and outside the Partnership became more complex, an analysis of internal…

Society as a whole has become more transient, creating a weakened network for families in need of assistance. The child care center has the ability to create a support system for families via referrals to outside agencies, support groups, and organizations. This practicum project assessed a strategy to address the difficulty a child care agency…

This review examines ways in which institutions and agencies act as barriers to paternal involvement, particularly for unmarried fathers and fathers of color. These fathers are frequently portrayed as unwilling, uninterested parents who must be forced by the government to take responsibility for their children, and this perspective lays the…

The National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC) was conducted to provide information about the providers of homeless assistance services and the characteristics of homeless clients who use them. This survey was conducted for use by federal agencies and other interested parties responsible for administering homeless…

This paper identifies the building of community during an ethnographic study of an intergenerational art education program in Harlem, New York City. The study examined intergenerational interactions between seniors and teenagers during their participation in an afterschool art program. Seniors were chosen from a list of 100 persons registered for…

The mission of the National Center on Fathers and Families (NCOFF) is to improve the life chances and well-being of children and the efficacy of families by facilitating the positive involvement of fathers. Seven core learnings, developed in 1994, are at the heart of NCOFF's agenda for research, practice, and policy, and a framework for the field.…

New Jersey has a history of successfully providing a strong safety net to support low-income families on welfare and the working poor. Despite its emphasis on work and responsibility, it has maintained a high level of support for many public assistance programs. The governor changed the emphasis of New Jersey's welfare program from education and…

Alabama has a long history of providing a modest safety net for low-income families and children. This report examines Alabama's cash assistance, workforce development, child care, and child welfare systems for low-income families with children. Information comes from interviews with managers and front-line workers, focus groups with parents and…

In the United Kingdom, professionals are not legally required to report suspected cases of child abuse. The Children Act (1989) specified that local authorities have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children, but did not make reporting mandatory. It identified specific tasks for teachers in the process of reporting and established joint…

Child welfare program standards based on current knowledge, children's developmental needs, and tested ways of meeting these needs most effectively provide benchmarks of excellence that can be used as goals to advance and guide contemporary practice. This book delineates standards for services for abused or neglected children and their families.…

In 1994, the Carnegie Corporation released "Starting Points: Meeting the Needs of Our Youngest Children," which called for an action agenda to promote responsible parenthood, guarantee quality child care choices, ensure good health and protection, and mobilize communities to support young children and families. In 1996, the Carnegie…

In 1993 the Minnesota Legislature provided funding to establish local collaborative initiatives to integrate services and improve outcomes for children and families. This report is based on the individual outcome reports mandated for the 24 collaboratives that first received implementation grants in 1995 or 1996. Information from a variety of…

Social service programs for children and families have often distanced themselves from issues of religion and spirituality. However, in recent years, children's services and family therapy have gradually moved toward stronger emphases on ecosystemic influences, including those from organized religions. The overlapping and interacting roles of…