Home-economics education during the biennium has made notable progress. Among the achievements are the formation of the Organization of Supervisors and Teachers of Home Economics, further curriculum revision, better integration of home-economics instruction with health education, larger opportunities for child development and parental education,…

Hypothesizes regarding factors that enhance prosociality in children, implying that the quality of childrearing and early companionship have profound impact on toddlers' social behavior. Discusses observation space versus companion space, prosocial behavior across cultures, when toddlers abuse, and the implications of a circular reenactment of…

Describes a longitudinal study of permanency planning for children in kinship foster care in Erie County, New York, focusing on care duration, discharge destinations, and discharge goals. Notes that many children were adopted by or living with kin with the goal of adoption. Describes the "Kinship Options" program which strives for…

Presents a classroom guidance program for students in elementary, middle, or high school. The program is intended to educate students about nontraditional families, promote positive attitudes toward them, teach decision making and coping skills related to family issues, and show understanding for children of single parent and stepfamilies. (TE)

Interviews with 87 adolescents from farm and nonfarm families in rural New York revealed that farm adolescents were closer to their families, were more isolated from peers and peer-related activities, were less likely to pursue a college degree, and were unlikely to remain on the farm despite the positive aspects of farm life. Addresses…

This article explores the many facets of the contemporary family in the United States, including their variations in structure, size, and ethnic and linguistic characteristics; the impact of sociohistorical factors on family functioning and lifestyle; implications of models of child development; and policy recommendations. (JDD)

This study examined 23 case studies of outstandingly successful deaf high school students. Analysis indicated that most of the students experienced some degree of isolation from peers, family, or both but had developed positive coping strategies. The paper emphasizes that deaf adolescents should know that it is normal to feel lonely and isolated.…

Asserts that educational researchers have not paid enough attention to issues and problems related to parenting adolescents. Reports on a study of 300 Russian parents and 300 upper-grade students from both rural and urban environments. Summarizes those parenting skills and family practices that appear to be effective. (CFR)

Interviewed 24 children who had been in contact with child welfare, school counseling, or the child psychiatric clinic in a Norwegian suburb. Found that the majority had structured lives within a variety of family constellations. Many had little information about their contact with welfare services and difficulty evaluating the effects of…

Examined Latack-Dozier model of career growth through job loss using a sample of 515 involuntarily displaced professionals. Results supported the model and identified variables most predictive of career growth for men and women. Found partial support for hypothesis that men and women rely on different forms of social support after job loss. (JBJ)

Investigated the relationship among childhood sexual abuse and parental alcoholism, retrospective reports of family functioning, and having had a history of either suicidal ideation or suicide attempts. Subjects (n=420) were drawn from a sample of undergraduate college women. Results indicate the experiences of childhood sexual abuse and parental…

The numbers of Latinas who attend college, stay in college, graduate, and attend graduate school escalated in the 1990s, surpassing gains made by any other underrepresented group of students in higher education. However, their achievements come at a personal cost, as the high-achieving Latinas profiled in this chapter demonstrate.

The present study examined the independent and interactive relations of effortful control and two family environment variables (parent-adolescent conflict and negative family relations) on the subsequent conduct problems and depressive symptoms of 459 European American and Latino adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14. Hierarchical regression…

In the process of language shift from the immigrant languages to English, everyday communication within the family can become increasingly problematic due to strong divergences in the linguistic competences of the older and the younger generations. This article explores the process of language mediation between different generations, as it occurs…

To provide an array of perspectives on the future direction of foster care, five experts across various disciplines and backgrounds were asked to respond to this question: "How can the child welfare system be improved to better support families and promote the healthy development of children in foster care?" This article presents their responses…