Introduces an eight-step process for training social workers to become more effective multicultural practitioners. The first three steps--acknowledge cultural differences, know yourself, and know other cultures--are discussed and accompanied by experiential exercises to help practitioners recognize their own culture-bound beliefs, identify…

Argues that culturally effective practice remains elusive within child welfare agencies. Presents specific strategies that enhance cultural effectiveness at the individual, interprofessional, middle management, and upper management levels. Highlights a five-stage model of change and explores barriers to culturally competent practice, focusing on…

Describes a collaboration among a university, a state child welfare agency, and a Native American community organization to develop a culturally driven practice model for urban, Native American child welfare. Identifies challenges and opportunities in addressing the needs of urban Native American communities. Concludes with principles for…

Examines U.S. spouse-abuse program directors' survey. Compares programs according to region and urban-rural location. Results show rural programs offer more services, but few programs accepted clients from outside service areas, and few programs used proactive outreach methods. Discusses findings, social-work implications, and further study…

Presents findings of a World Rehabilitation Fund Fellowship study on the intersection of child abuse, family support, and disability in England. These findings are then compared to the American picture in this arena. Implications for new directions are delineated. (Author/BB)

The following social problems suggest the need for an intergenerational movement in the United States: (1) the social isolation of old and young; (2) the political and social strain resulting from Federal budget allocations; and (3) the labor shortage and its impact on social services. Programs linking elders and the young can address these…

Community-based family support and educational programs provide services to families during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood that are intended to improve family conditions, parental competence and behavior, and maternal and child health and development. Networks of social service agencies emphasize prevention and maintenance in reaching and…

Compares a large random sample of maltreated children (n=2,219) to smaller random samples of the general population and children receiving social services to investigate the effects of abuse and neglect on school performance. School-outcome deficits associated with maltreatment are substantively similar to those of children receiving social…

Discusses the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (OIS), which is based on a survey of child protection workers involved in 2,447 abuse and neglect investigations. OIS found an incidence rate of reported maltreatment of 21 per 1,000 children and a 27% substantiation rate. Includes comparisons with incidence rates for the…

Examined the functioning of admissions policies based on criteria of social need at two community nurseries providing integrated education, health, and social services, and two traditional nursery schools in the Strathclyde region of Scotland. Found that the community nurseries were more successful in admitting children from families with defined…

A pilot system of individualized and rurally compatible community-based alternatives to residential and institutional treatment settings for seriously emotionally disturbed children was evaluated. The results indicate that this intensive, community-based, service-delivery system appears to improve children's behavioral and emotional functioning,…

Provides an overview of the articles presented in this special issue on matters affecting family preservation services, related policies, and evaluation. Discusses concerns related to the preservation approach and child protection, suggesting that although it is an improvement on the previous protection approaches, it is fraught with difficulties…

Provides a brief overview and analysis of the legislation of Family Preservation and Support Services. Suggests that the legislation provides the states with the necessary funding to conduct needs assessments and prepare thorough plans to address the problems facing families. Notes that the legislation involves some risks due to lack of strong…

Examines the promotion of the Homebuilders type of family preservation services. Suggests that successful marketing and dissemination of a single program design, in this policy environment, may displace other, equally effective programs and models. Notes that such success in marketing may also have adverse effects on research, education, continued…

Examines family policy from an international vantage point outside the particular context of United States family policy and reveals how women involved in parenting and a career, and their children, fare in the international economic arena. The pros and cons of the state serving as a support system are illustrated. (GR)