Discusses the sources and symptoms of lead poisoning, as well as preventive measures that parents and child care providers can take to ensure that children have a lead-free environment. (MDM)

Presents new information about Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP), factitious disorder in which caretaker may induce or exaggerate medical illness in his or her child that may lead to illness and even death. Provides psychosocial history of caregiver using intergenerational model. Presents case of MSBP involving three siblings and information…

This paper discusses the legal and ethical duty of professionals working with children to recognize possible child abuse and report it to the appropriate authorities. Concerns about false or unnecessary reports are addressed, factors associated with the decision to report are examined, and indicators of possible abuse are reviewed. (JDD)

Qualitative study of 29 pairs of widowed mothers and caregiving daughters employed social exchange theory to identify three relationship types: intrinsic, ambivalent, and conflicted. Found types differed in extent to which women received rewards from interacting with partner, experienced costs in interactions, handled conflicts in relationships,…

Data from Second National Family Violence Survey revealed no significant differences between genetic and nongenetic parents in rates of severe and very severe violence toward children. Findings have implications for diagnosing cases of child abuse and for biosocial theory of child maltreatment. (Author/NB)

Examined involvement of working-class Irish fathers in infant caretaking to end of first year of life. Also examined relationship between parental behavior and infant cognitive development. Results showed that fathers were substantially involved in infant caretaking over first year and that parental involvement in caretaking had independent effect…

A review of nursing literature on empathy is presented to help clarify the concept, and an analysis is given concerning the relationship of empathy to recent findings on expert caring in nursing. Vignettes are presented as illustrations of the concepts discussed. (Author/MLW)

In some instances empathy may serve as a guide to conceptualizing the patient's situation. Empathy is a dangerous notion if it is thought to be mindless, experiential, existential connectedness. Not every nurse-patient encounter will benefit from empathy; some will require theory, applied experience, or even translation or consultation. (MLW)

Examined effects of training of day caregivers in drug and alcohol abuse prevention skills. Found significant improvement in participant learning and skill application over mere provision of training materials without accompanying training sessions. Act of attending sessions appeared to increase participant feelings of responsibility for…

Notes that early infancy, rather than being a period of helplessness, is a period of active exploration and reciprocal interaction with caregivers. Includes activities caregivers can engage in with infants to stimulate infant sensory abilities. (HTH)

Examines the essential characteristics of teachers of young children: good physical health, kindness, courage, integrity, self-awareness, a theoretical framework in which to see children, the equivalent of a college graduate's general knowledge, warm respect for and courtesy to children, trust in children, discretion, intuition, professional…

Discusses the need to improve child care situations and suggests an intergenerational intervention as a solution. Describes successful models such as"Foster Grandparents." (JOW)

Reports on the validity of the Indicators of Abuse (IOA) Screen, used by social-services-agency practitioners as an abuse screening tool. An abuse-indicator model evolving from the IOA suggests three main types of abuse signals: caregivers' personal problems/issues, caregivers interpersonal problems, and care receivers' social-support shortages…

Discusses the best ways to deal with campers' homesickness and ways to prevent its onset. A definition of homesickness is given, and physical and behavioral characteristics of homesick campers are listed. Preventive measures include ice-breakers, establishing ground rules, and keeping campers busy. Setting goals with the camper and giving some…

Defines traumatic brain injury (TBI) as an acquired injury to the head that results in long-term and often permanent physical and emotional disturbances that often has catastrophic impacts on families. Reviews six research articles regarding implications for both therapists and researchers working with TBI families. (Author/MKA)