Supplements and extends an earlier article by these authors. Suggests that a strengths approach, with guiding principles of family preservation, be used to empower child protective service (CPS) caseworkers and to enhance their cultural competence. Defines ethnic sensitivity and identifies the components of a strengths approach to CPS training.…

This paper examines the nature of the harm created by child abuse, both harm resulting from maltreatment itself and harm arising from professional responses to the discovery of maltreatment. The paper then explores ways of studying such harm in more detail and offers a pragmatic view of future child protection possibilities. (JDD)

Presents analysis and typology of community-based care for young Hispanic mother with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Develops conceptual framework that examines retrospectively needs generated by AIDS over time, appropriateness of services, and assessment of interventions. Presents conclusions regarding definition and implementation…

A former mental health counselor and managed-care case manager provides insights on dealing with managed care organizations. Offers suggestions on how mental health counselors can develop working relationships with case managers, do treatment planning, submit claims forms, and resolve disputes. (Author/JDM)

The outcome results of home visiting programs have been mixed and modestly encouraging at best. To further understand this phenomenon it is important to understand what influences participation in home visiting programs. This study explores the relationship between housing stability and level of participation in an Early Head Start home visiting…

A new program in California partners the California Department of Corrections with a non-profit drug treatment agency on behalf of pregnant or parenting women who are drug offenders with substance abuse histories. The women are sentenced to the family foundations facility for one year and receive a range of special services to prepare for…

Successful transitioning and reintegrating students from alternative programs requires staff to (a) operate from an effective model that includes all stakeholders as participants, (b) follow guidelines that structure the process prior to, during, and at the follow-up stages, and (c) designate staff with responsibility for coordination and…

Describes an experimental child abuse training program developed for a wide range of community workers involved in the care of high risk families, and examines factors that interfere with the delivery of effective care. (CM)

Presents a decision-making model which is based on selected philosophical concepts and professional ethical guidelines and is designed to help child welfare practitioners deal with ethical issues in all aspects of their work. Use of the model is demonstrated in its application to selected aspects of a case study involving child custody…

From in-depth interviews with 15 public and volunteer agency caseworkers in states with and without statewide parental visiting policies, the elements that tend to determine or control the planned frequency of parental visiting of placed children are discussed. (BB)

A national survey of master's of social work programs was conducted to ascertain the extent to which curricula include content on "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-III) and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of this practice. Findings suggest strong support for the inclusion. (Author/MH)

Describes a pilot project allowing senior nursing students to make home visits to elderly clients with graduate students in social work. The purpose was to help students develop a clear sense of professional identity, awareness of one another's competency, and awareness of the multiple needs of the aging. (CH)

Addresses cultural and racial issues as they relate to social work practice and describes how an agency's awareness of these issues was increased as a result of a training project for minority students. A case history illustrates the agency's new perspective on service delivery. (Author/JAC)

Describes an effective, cost-efficient method of intervention with families of failure-to-thrive infants which employs supervised social work students to model nurturing and provide support services to mothers. (Author)

Describes and evaluates a child protection team in rural Vermont. The author draws on the team's experience to develop a model designed to utilize the strengths of a small community. (Author/DB)