The rural environment in which most Indian tribal human service personnel work impedes the access of paraprofessional staff to professional education programs that will enable them to expand their theoretical knowledge, enhance their practical skills, and advance their careers. Each day, child welfare workers encounter complex tasks that require…

Congressional hearings were held to discuss the proposed national foster care system, which is intended to provide temporary homes for children, most frequently victims of abuse or neglect, when their own families are incapable of providing suitable parental supervision. The committee heard testimony from 11 representatives of state and federal…

A study researched effects of the Parents' Fair Share (PFS) program on employment and earnings. In exchange for cooperation with the child support system, PFS offered services designed to help low-income noncustodial fathers (NCFs) find better and more stable jobs, become more involved and better parents, and pay support on a consistent basis. PFS…

Discusses the reversal of the ruling in the custody case of "Ireland vs. Smith." Points out that initially Jennifer Ireland lost custody of her daughter solely because she placed her in family day care while she attended college classes. Examines the case as an illustration of a judicial bias against out-of-home child care and working…

The decision to divorce is grueling for most parents, who usually worry heavily about the impact of divorce on their children. The study described in this book was undertaken to discover what circumstances of family life after divorce are associated with good adjustment on the part of children, so that both parents and professionals can enhance…

One quarter of all American children will live in a single-parent family for at least some portion of their childhood. This guide, organized as a step-by-step process, encourages single parents to reach for excellence in their parenting and to build confidence in their ability to raise healthy, responsible children. The chapters are intended to…

A literature review of the Educational Resources and Information Center (ERIC), Psychological Abstracts, and Dissertation Abstracts International was conducted to examine research data and observations concerning the problems faced by males during and after divorce. Based on a scheme of divorce elements developed by Bohannon (1970) these problems…

Describes efforts in Illinois to improve permanency outcomes for children in formal kinship care: the state developed Delegated Relative Authority (DRA) status for children in stable family foster care with relatives while maintaining state support in situations where adoption was unlikely. Presents findings from 1,116 feasibility assessments. (SD)

Reviews Michigan Kinship Project, a case management approach that is competency based and designed to assist child welfare staff members in working effectively with relatives as foster parents. Focuses on attention to culture, family participation and empowerment, systematic assessment, and individualized and comprehensive services. Provides case…

Presents the historical background, contemporary factors, issues, and activities that led to the enactment of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Discusses actions of the Devils Lake Sioux of North Dakota in 1968 and involvement of the Association on American Indian Affairs, which led to Senate hearings in 1974 and passage of the act in 1978. (TM)

Three articles present suggestions to help elementary teachers promote student development. The first describes games that encourage a sense of community. The second deals with making parent teacher conferences a positive experience. The third discusses how to give confused children who are involved in custody battles an alternative to acting out.…

There are 3.2 million children in the United States living with their grandparents or other kin, a 40 percent increase since 1980. This exploding sociological trend with far-reaching implications for our future spans every segment of our society--rich and poor, black and white, Asian and Hispanic, urban and suburban. Based on interviews with…

This paper investigates the influence of divorce on middle level students (grades 5 through 8) and how it relates to the students' performance (both academically and emotionally) in school. Also important to the discussion is what teachers should know about working with the children of divorce. The paper includes a review of the literature on…

Noting that the preceding two decades have seen a dramatic growth in the proportion of families that are headed by women, this book explores the causes and implications of this development. The book bring together information on the past and present prevalence of mother-headed families in different countries. It then considers the various…

These free papers presented at an International Committee on Family Research (CFR) seminar include (1) Frances E. Baum's "There's No Room in the Nuclear Family: Sharing As an Alternative Housing Option"; (2) Paula W. Dail's "Parental Role Perceptions among Young, Dual Parent Families in America: Family Policy Implications for the…