Noting that improving practice in all child welfare services is a major goal of the Child Welfare League of America, this handbook presents goals and standards for services to strengthen and preserve families with children. The handbook begins with introductory sections describing standards development, detailing how to use the standards, and…

For child care to become more supportive of families, programs and providers need to learn about the guiding principles of working with families and the concrete steps they can take in that direction. This resource guide offers ideas and resources for implementing family support principles in child care. The guide offers practitioners ideas and…

This final report of Project Prepare, a federally funded program at the University of Tennessee, describes the critical features and specific goals of the project, as well as program evaluation methods and results. The program was funded to develop a personnel preparation program for early childhood specialists that emphasized an…

In June, 1999, the U.S. Departments of Justice and of Health and Human Services convened the National Summit on Children Exposed to Violence, bringing together experts to develop a framework for understanding and addressing children's exposure to violence. This Summary describes that framework, presenting an action plan that outlines principles…

For children with disabilities, children at risk, and even for healthy infants and toddlers born into well-functioning families, support and early intervention can foster optimal growth and development. Based upon the underlying principle that the most effective interventions incorporate flexible, client-centered approaches with the client-service…

This final report describes accomplishments of the four-year federally funded Arizona Deafblind Project which attempted to: (1) identify all deafblind children in Arizona; (2) deliver technical assistance to families; (3) deliver technical assistance to service providers; and (4) enhance community oversight, coordination, and collaboration with…

This study evaluated the degree and quality of program implementation and educational outcomes associated with Kentucky's Family Resource and Youth Service Center, a school-based family resource and support program which emphasized increased involvement of families of special needs students and the community with their schools. Twenty centers…

Three case studies describe intervention with infants/toddlers who were exposed to methadone in utero. Intervention included providing therapeutic nursery services and addressing developmental and mental health needs of the children and the high-risk family systems, including parents' knowledge of child development and parents' emotional support…

A case example involving a Native American family referred to a child welfare agency illustrates social work intervention strategies that encourage cultural competence, recognize power differences between cultures, promote understanding of role variations and belief systems, consider alternative approaches for helping clients with drug or alcohol…

Presents an integrative model of family development in cultural context as a framework for supporting the optimal development of Latino children and families. Describes two prevention and early intervention programs for Latino parents and children that work from a multidimensional, risk-reduction, and resource-enhancement approach, and focus on…

Used mail survey to assess contributions of voluntary organizations providing for children with life-limiting incurable disorders. Found a variety of services, including information service, emotional support and counseling, patient and family support, and telephone helpline. Respite care was associated with annual budget size. Unstable funding,…

Describes ways in which the collaborative efforts of the Head Start and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) programs help welfare recipients become employed and self-sufficient. (BB)

Describes a Baltimore City Head Start project that was designed to provide educational and other services to children from birth to age five years who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Services are also provided to children's families. (BB)

Literature is reviewed on service delivery to families with adolescent parents of handicapped infants. Stages of adolescence, parenting behaviors, and issues of support are presented. The literature calls for a family focus as a model, case management skills, and a developmental approach as young parents' abilities and needs mature. (Author/JDD)

Discusses successes and problems of Head Start. Suggests that Head Start's difficulties relate to its implementation, not its design. Proposes increasing the effectiveness of Head Start through a series of reform strategies that relate to interventions that address the needs of children in child care, preschool children, and school-age children.…