Many child abuse prevention programs have targeted factors within the family, such as parenting skills. This book describes the next wave of prevention: the promotion of safer, healthier childrearing environments in entire communities. The contributors are leading authorities who illuminate how contextual factors-including poverty, chaotic neighbourhoods, and lack of social supports-combine with family factors to place children at risk for maltreatment. They present a range of exemplary programs designed to strengthen communities while also helping individual parents to meet their children's needs. Real-world evaluation approaches, quality-control strategies, and policy implications are discussed in depth.
"Reports of child abuse have quadrupled since we passed the first national child abuse law in 1974. In this volume, an interdisciplinary group of outstanding scholars demonstrates that our lack of progress in curbing child abuse is due to not properly conceptualizing this saddest of all social problems. This brilliant and convincing work makes clear that we must move from the simplistic view that the primary cause of abuse is misbehaving or pathological parents to an ecological model in which families receive appropriate attention from community support networks." Edward Zigler, PhD, Sterling Professor of Psychology Emeritus and Director Emeritus, Edward Zigler Center for Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University
"This state-of-the-art volume brings together in one place the conceptual issues, empirical research, and policy analyses relevant to involving communities in child maltreatment prevention. The book provides an excellent overview of established prevention approaches, such as home visiting by nurses, as well as new and promising community-level interventions. It examines some hot topics in child welfare service delivery, including differential response and quality improvement systems, along with such thorny issues as the tension between preventing maltreatment versus promoting positive child development. An invaluable resource for practitioners, advocates, students, policymakers, and researchers interested in the best thinking about efforts to keep children safe." Mark E. Courtney, PhD, Executive Director, Partners for Our Children; Ballmer Endowed Chair for Child Well-Being, School of Social Work, University of Washington
Roger Lowe achieves the almost impossible task of bringing together various theories, techniques and case examples in clear and accessible ways. Readers of all disciplines, from front-line hard-pressed practitioners to students on therapy and social work courses, will be grateful for the simple and above all useful way he tackles the burning questions that arise in working with the family group. More info
Overcoming Loss is a photocopiable resource that addresses children's feeling of loss, which can arise from changing communities, schools, moving house, divorce or the death of a parent or grandparent. Children are limited to a vocabulary of broad emotions like 'happy', 'sad' and 'angry', and are often unable to articulate their grief in words. This can impair their long-term emotional development. The activities in Overcoming Loss use the power of play and creative arts to give the grieving child the language to identify subtle feelings, such as shame, despair and jealousy.... More info
Rebuilding Lives after Domestic Violence examines in-depth the long-term outcomes for women who have suffered domestic violence and abuse, based on interviews conducted over seven years. Through these interviews the author reveals the factors which help or hinder a successful transition from abusive relationship to independent living. The women interviewed provide an insight into the lengthy and difficult process of rebuilding their lives, and offer messages and advice to those working with women who have endured similar experiences. The author examines issues the women commonly face such as finding safe... More info