Families as Nurturing Systems Support Across the Life Span

Here is a major new volume for practitioners, researchers, and those concerned with future policies to promote the welfare of children and families. The patterns of support and the ability of family members to care for each other have changed along with the problems for the health and functioning of families. In Families as Nurturing Systems, respected scholars examine the new and emerging directions in the design and implementation of family resources and support programs. They describe and analyze a wide range of program models in the areas of prevention, social support, family resource, and empowerment that have been implemented in schools, the Afro-American church, early intervention programs, the workplace, and the public policy arena, reflecting the needs of families at different stages in the family life cycle.

Contents Preface Families as Nurturing Systems: An Introduction Part I: New Directions for Family Resource and Support Programs Supporting and Strengthening Family Functioning: Toward a Congruence Between Principles and Practice Personal Social Networks as a Focus of Support Family Resource and Support Programs: Changes and Challenges in the Human Services Services for Children With Special Needs: Partnerships From the Beginning Between Parents and Practitioners A Lifespan Perspective on Caregiving Families, Policy, and Family Support Policies Part II: Family Support Across the Life Span and Within Different Settings Early Family Intervention: Focusing on the Mother’s Adaptation-Competence and Quality of Partnership The Challenge of Multiple Roles: The Interface Between Work and Family When Children Are Young The Schools and Family Oriented Prevention Social Network Intervention in Intensive Family-Based Preventive Services The Black Church and Family Support Programs Preventing Adoption Disruption How Fathers Respond When Their Youth Leave and Return Home The Oldest Old: Caregiving or Social Support?