Reviews the current state of mental health services to children, youth, and families. The development of a continuum of care coordinated across the mental and non-mental health systems that naturally occur in all children's lives may vastly improve mental health services to children, youth, and families. (Author/BJV)

Summarizes findings of a survey of eight First Nation (Canada Native) communities concerning the provision of child and family services. The results identify important differences concerning the causality of child welfare problems, the definition of key child welfare concepts, and the place of cultural values and practices in intervention. (MDM)

This article examines the development of Temple University's Institute for Africana Social Work, which is designed to foster an explicit African-centered perspective and practice for social work intervention in African American communities. Various programs and policies initiated by the institute are reviewed. (MDM)

Discusses the School of the 21st Century model for school-based and school-linked service provision, which has been implemented in over 300 schools to provide high-quality services to children from birth through age 12. Includes preliminary results of a three-year outcome evaluation of one program. (MDM)

A framework is presented for developing collaborative, community-based programs to assist substance-using women and their young children. Five types of service providers are identified: medical personnel, welfare and child protective services, illicit drug use and mental health programs, community protection services, and ethnically based advocacy…

Examines the proposal to assign the child protective investigative function to law enforcement agencies, while maintaining the family service function in the child welfare system. Reviews the national experience with the separation of income maintenance and social services in public welfare, advising extreme caution in the implementation of this…

Compared the application of intensive family preservation services (IFPS) to reunify children in out-of-home care placement with their biological families, with the same service used for preventing the need for such placements. Suggests that the relative usage of specific services and service goals confirmed the continuation of the original model.…

Focuses on current knowledge of families' involvement in intensive family preservation services. Identifies gaps in knowledge pertaining to the context of service delivery, the theory of family preservation practice, the process of service delivery, and the conceptualization and meaning of service outcomes. Suggests that gaps might be…

Studied the impact of a $70-per-month increase in payment to foster parents, and other incentives, on the stability of foster care and the behavior of 4- to 7-year-old children in foster care. Children whose foster parents received payments exhibited a lower foster care dropout rate than other children. (SM)

Thirty-eight high-school special education students were surveyed after graduation concerning their work history, career roles, involvement with social agencies, life satisfaction, and career skill ratings. Approximately 50 percent of the group were competitively employed, mostly part time. Subjective quality of life was not related to any…

Drug-exposed infants are having a profound impact on the child welfare system. When community resources are not available to meet the needs of these children and families, requirements of current child welfare laws cannot be met. The range of services necessary for effective child welfare responses is discussed. (SLD)

Reviews policies that address substance abuse among the homeless. Recommends that the changing needs of the homeless require an integration of alcoholism and drug abuse recovery services with programs for various groups, substance-free housing, and psychological knowledge incorporated into programs for those struggling with addiction and…

Reviews recent research on the epidemiology, subject characteristics, and service needs of the homeless population who are dually diagnosed to suffer both severe mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Discusses evolving approaches to providing social services, various treatments, system and legal issues, and problems with current research.…

The relationships between education and nutrition are addressed, with emphasis on the following: (1) research needed to help at-risk children; (2) policy recommendations to address the needs of at-risk children; and (3) innovative programs that address children's needs. Findings of a seminar on comprehensive social services for disadvantaged youth…

Discusses rural poverty in Bangladesh and describes the creation of the Grameen Bank, which combines business with social engineering. The rapid diffusion of the bank both within and outside Bangladesh is described; interpersonal strategies used in communicating its programs, especially to women, are explained; and the socioeconomic impact in…