This booklet was written to help parents decide what to tell their child who has cancer. It recommends that parents tell their child the truth about his disease to prevent him from feeling guilty and to increase his cooperation with treatment. A gentle, open, and honest approach is suggested. Sections discuss who should tell the child and when the…

A review of the clinically relevant literature on prevention of child maltreatment was conducted in an attempt to provide: (1) a definition and theoretical understanding of some aspects of prevention, child maltreatment, and social support systems; (2) a proposal of the usefulness of social isolation as an important theme in interpreting the…

This paper examines psychological and social issues for single mothers in the context of therapeutic strategies for effective intervention. Never married, previously married, and Lesbian mothers are considered in terms of sociocultural myths and sources of stigma; research findings related to these myths; and interventions targeting the…

These two documents address the issue of dealing with blame for farm families in crisis. The first document, for the adult student, discusses how and why people blame each other, with emphasis on the current farm financial crisis. It is noted that blaming occurs primarily at the anger and depression stages of the loss cycle and that, when losing…

This document contains witnesses testimonies from the Congressional hearing on runaway and homeless youth called to examine the problem of runaway children and the relationship between runaway and missing children services. In his opening statement Representative Kildee recognizes benefits of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Six witnesses give…

This document contains testimony and prepared statements from a Congressional hearing called to examine the issue of elder abuse. Chairman Claude Pepper's opening statement discusses the horror of elder abuse and calls for federal legislation, similar to the child abuse legislation, for combating elder abuse. Elder abuse is defined as physical…

This document presents a guide to help 4-H Club leaders understand the stresses afffecting club members and work to strengthen individual and family coping skills. Economic, social, political, and psychological changes which may have a profound impact on rural and farm families are cited as sources of stress. Leaders are provided with a framework…

This study investigated: (1) effects of teaching mothers the unique behavioral cues of their adopted infants and (2) potential differences between the mothering practices of adoptive and birth mothers. A pretest, posttest experimental prospective design was used with random assignment of mother-infant dyads. Mother-adopted infant dyads were…

A marker method (MM) and a rating method (RM) for testing a phasing hypothesis of family problem-solving interactions (PSIs) are compared. Focus was on studying the procedure employed in each method to test a phasing hypothesis of problem solving and how the methods compare against a set of criteria. In the RM, each family problem-solving episode…

Decision making about an observational recording system for family interaction research is crucial. Alternative coding-recording methods and combinations thereof are discussed, including: (1) paper-and-pencil on-site method; (2) video-tapes; (3) paper-and-pencil and mechanical coding devices; (4) transcripts; and (5) transcripts combined with…

This document is one of seven publications contained in a series of materials for physicians on recognizing, intervening with, and treating adolescent alcoholism. The materials in this unit of study are designed to help the physician know the different classes of drugs, recognize common presenting symptoms of drug overdose, and place use and abuse…

Although the possibility of a suicidal act cannot be predicted from any one variable, a disturbed relationship with parents has been described as one of the most important extrinsic factors contributing to a youth's risk for self-destructive behavior. This study sought to determine if it is possible to discriminate between groups…

As part of a larger research effort, a study was conducted to determine the coping strategies used by families undergoing unemployment. Data were collected from a 95-item questionnaire (developed and tested at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln) that was mailed to 150 persons and/or their spouses who were currently unemployed or had been…

American family life is being transformed by both parents increasingly becoming employed. This change has created a need for strategies to assist single-parent and two-paycheck families. Two-paycheck families present problems to clinical psychologists. External demands on these families include the demands of the workplace, children's needs, the…

This report outlines state legislative initiatives to develop family-based child welfare public policy. Emphasis is placed on legislation to ensure that "reasonable efforts" are made to reduce the need for out-of-home placement of children. Also included is an update of state implementation of permanency planning initiatives related to agency…